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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of primal
Dog Day Afternoon is the third rail of male love and loneliness—a primal scream from the sweltering streets of a stone broke New York City.
—
Jenny Lumet, Vanity Fair, 10 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for primal
Jenny Lumet, Vanity Fair, 10 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for primal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primal
Adjective
-
The district’s major facilities overhaul is set to bring freshman students back into Neuqua’s main building starting in 2027, which will free up Birkett to house a number of district programs.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Hitting this target should be your main priority in the months ahead.—
Christine Benz,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Tiny Zahara is a delight for those who want to hear only the sounds of the wind, birds, and elderly footsteps on ancient cobbles.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Although its beliefs align with Roman Catholic doctrine, including the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, the church maintains its own distinct, ancient Eastern traditions and identity.—
Gregory Bull,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The aesthetic is plush but also primitive.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Some futurists compare this development to our primitive ancestors’ discovery of fire.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Mesa County Clerk and Colorado Republican candidate for secretary of state Tina Peters reacts to early election returns during a primary night watch party at the Wide Open Saloon on June 28, 2022, in Sedalia, Colorado.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Senior Republicans under pressure from conservative activists and GOP primary challengers are starting to take notice.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
13 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
-
And what’s so predominant is the characters are no bigger than the story.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Dark green is the predominant color in this manicure even though a black shade serves as the base.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Promenade in Brea are smaller examples of the town center concept that dates to the early 1990s, after the success of Reston Town Center in Virginia.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
She was becoming influenced by social scientists such as the French philosopher Auguste Comte, who were less concerned with enshrining individual rights than with imposing a social order—a departure from her earlier universalist thinking.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primal. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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