as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
primeval forests slowly disappearing as the climate changed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primeval
The limp is the primeval sign, in many cultural myth systems, of autochthony: humans born from the earth, parentless.
—
Nicholas Dames, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
But in this primeval stage, nearly all of the potential Democratic candidates are discussing problems that have bedeviled their party for years: how to win back working-class voters, how aggressively to oppose President Trump and how to reach voters beyond the traditional news media.
—Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Our own moon shows evidence of primeval tidal heating, too.
—Robin George Andrews, Quanta Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
Los Angeles, like the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Santa Monica Mountains, will never return to its primeval state.
—Edward Ring, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primeval
Nicholas Dames, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
But in this primeval stage, nearly all of the potential Democratic candidates are discussing problems that have bedeviled their party for years: how to win back working-class voters, how aggressively to oppose President Trump and how to reach voters beyond the traditional news media.
—Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Our own moon shows evidence of primeval tidal heating, too.
—Robin George Andrews, Quanta Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
Los Angeles, like the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Santa Monica Mountains, will never return to its primeval state.
—Edward Ring, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primeval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primeval
Adjective
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With ancient mountain ranges and historic trails, Travelers Rest truly gets more beautiful with age.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
17 Aug. 2025
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India’s culture — ancient, old, and new — isn’t neat.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
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Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
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Nick battles against primal urges and the choice to preserve his family, as music from James Brown, Janis Joplin, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones and Bruce Springsteen spell out the high-stakes emotions at play.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
12 Aug. 2025
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Though Welch has not yet announced it, admirers of the singer believe the primal scream video is part of the ramping-up promotion for her as-yet-unannounced follow-up to 2022’s Dance Fever album.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The languages spoken by nearly half of the world’s population—including some four hundred million native speakers of English—are thought to have descended from this prehistoric language.—
Martha Barnette
August 6,
Literary Hub,
6 Aug. 2025
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Ten Little Dinos This four-minute video takes kids deep into the prehistoric jungle where ten colorful eggs are cozy in their nest.—
Marilyn La Jeunesse,
Parents,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Using these primordial rocks, astronomers can estimate their age and determine when our own solar system started to form.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
16 July 2025
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But that's not the end of the primordial black hole story.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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With the score, Rivera surged to an early and sizable lead.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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Several hours before Friday’s game and well ahead of normal batting practice, seven players showed up for early hitting work on the field with Chavez and Barnes.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primeval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primeval. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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