1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primal
Blyth provides a fitting foil to Jonsson’s softness with his endless spring of ruthless aggression, forcing Taylor’s primal survival instincts to butt against his more civilized sense that there has to be something more for him in this world.
—
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
Of course, every human era is obsessed with its end, a fact that connects Sacrifice to something more primal than mere 21st-century anxiety.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Greengrass viewed the story of The Lost Bus through a similar lens, following a micro, primal cinematic story of survival that was ultimately about what these disasters mean on a macro level.
—Tomris Laffly, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
But Foniadakis demands movement that is far more raw and primal.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
Of course, every human era is obsessed with its end, a fact that connects Sacrifice to something more primal than mere 21st-century anxiety.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Greengrass viewed the story of The Lost Bus through a similar lens, following a micro, primal cinematic story of survival that was ultimately about what these disasters mean on a macro level.
—Tomris Laffly, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
But Foniadakis demands movement that is far more raw and primal.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primal
Adjective
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Greek Yogurt Has More Protein If your main goal is to include more protein in your diet, consider breakfasts featuring Greek yogurt.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
30 Sep. 2025
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His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Proximity to several universities has filled the area with used book stores, cheap restaurants, and coffee shops that were ancient before anyone ever heard of Starbucks.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Oct. 2025
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Specifically, they have been designed to explore lava tubes or underground tunnels formed by ancient volcanic activity that may exist on the moon.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The open North Rim camping at Fire Point and Swamp Ridge, is primitive and requires a backcountry permit.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Oct. 2025
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The Chinese navy already makes port calls in Myanmar, but these are brief stays in facilities too primitive to provide naval advantage.—
Dan Swift,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Pathways, promises and potential are always the primary motivations.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Five years later Augusta had a stroke, with Ed acting as primary caretaker.—
JR Radcliffe,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Aside from its extraordinary size, Moses marvels at the primeval nature of the Lucara diamond.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
27 Aug. 2025
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The wilder West, meanwhile, is marked by vast, primeval cliffs that drop into an unforgiving ocean.—
Zoë Dare Hall,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The process of resurrection After growing the primordial germ cells, the Colossal scientists plan to edit these with dodo-specific genes.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
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At the same time, Colossal is using a similar culture to grow the primordial germ cells of the Nicobar pigeon, which is more closely related to the dodo.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The predominant narrative among many springs scientists, advocates and government officials is that rising nitrate levels in springs over the past few decades fuels the growth of excess algae.—
Christopher F. Meindl,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
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Facebook emerged as the predominant tool—particularly in Egypt and Tunisia—helping organizers broadcast calls to march, circulate videos and connect people across the country to turn out and oust their leaders.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Its image is painted on ancient Southwestern pottery and chiseled into prehistoric petroglyphs that line Texas canyons.—
Hollace Ava Weiner,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Oct. 2025
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From the Elgol dinosaur to the Krusatodon or the world’s largest pterosaur fossil from the Jurassic period, fossils found here have shaped our understanding of the prehistoric world.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primal. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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