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
Focusing strictly on survival, the History series strands 10 individuals by themselves in the wilderness, testing their primal instincts and adaptability.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Feb. 2026
Land is a primal word, primordial even, like lava.
—Tommy Orange, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
Being able to peel all of those back to this primal core, connecting with nature, seeing just the beauty of sunrises and sunsets and experiencing that with a group of strangers that then could potentially become lifelong friends.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Seeing that the troupe has been mining primal drama for 100 years now—Greek myth, political rebellion, human sacrifice, and every shade of grief—that’s a big ask.
—Faye Arthurs, Air Mail, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primal
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Feb. 2026
Land is a primal word, primordial even, like lava.
—Tommy Orange, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
Being able to peel all of those back to this primal core, connecting with nature, seeing just the beauty of sunrises and sunsets and experiencing that with a group of strangers that then could potentially become lifelong friends.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Seeing that the troupe has been mining primal drama for 100 years now—Greek myth, political rebellion, human sacrifice, and every shade of grief—that’s a big ask.
—Faye Arthurs, Air Mail, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primal
Adjective
-
Flight disruption Dubai Airports confirmed that all flights in and out of the city’s two main airports have been suspended until further notice.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Cantor was referring to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, formed in 1927 and seen as a company union whose main purpose was less to honor excellence in the motion picture arts than to keep a tight rein on artists who wanted a bigger slice of the pie.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Around practically all galaxies are collections of mostly ancient stars known as globular clusters.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Mar. 2026
-
All of those on hand noted the striking parallel between Purim, which commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from annihilation in ancient Persia, and the dismantling of government in what is now Iran.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Overnight guests can also choose to use an RV site or camp in tent spots or in the primitive camping areas.—
Lana Ferguson,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Treatments were so primitive that medical intervention scarcely worked into the equation.—
Steven Levingston,
Vanity Fair,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Political logic Netanyahu has for decades framed Iran as Israel’s primary existential threat, shaping Israel’s security policy, diplomatic efforts and public discourse around it.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Friday is the deadline to file to appear on the primary election ballot.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This 50-square-mile crescent in the Pacific has the southernmost coral reef in the world and a wealth of wilderness walks that include everything from primeval banyan forests to endangered ground-dwelling birds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California Time slows to a primeval pace in the sequoia groves that make up Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, where arboreal giants have watched the seasons come and go for more than 2,000 years.—
Sarah L. Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Glass removed violins from the orchestra to achieve a dark, primordial orchestral sound along with pounding percussion.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
To the northwest, a tangled and primordial thicket flourished.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The predominant weather pattern, consisting of high atmospheric pressure, low humidity and spring-like warmth, has kept any rain chances infrequent and short-lived.—
Anthony Franze,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
With the war increasingly breaking down along the country’s predominant Arab and African ethnic groups, Sudan faces the task of rebuilding a national identity along with all the other trappings of a state.—
Cameron Hudson,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Though the 2028 presidential primaries have not yet begun, Van Hollen's proposal reflects the early jockeying around the ideas the party should run on.—
JEFF STEIN THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Throughout the early 20th century female film directors were few and far between, and could often be counted on one hand — from Alice Guy-Blanché and Lois Weber to Dorothy Arzner.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primal. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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