as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
all life on Earth supposedly came from a primordial ooze in existence many millions of years ago
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Recent Examples of primordial
Another study, published in March, found that microlightning in primordial mist may have sparked the chemical formation of the building blocks of life more than 3 billion years ago.
—
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Tidally locked, with one side permanently facing its star, the planet reaches surface temperatures of more than 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit (about 1,726 degrees Celsius) — hot enough to melt rock — and is old enough that any primordial atmosphere should have escaped long ago.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Astronomers first spotted this primordial supernova in March, thanks to a 10-second-long flash of high-energy light known as a gamma-ray burst.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 9 Dec. 2025
The Ain Samiya goblet, discovered in the West Bank in 1970, is the subject of new research about how ancient people viewed the universe — and primordial chaos — in antiquity.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primordial
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Tidally locked, with one side permanently facing its star, the planet reaches surface temperatures of more than 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit (about 1,726 degrees Celsius) — hot enough to melt rock — and is old enough that any primordial atmosphere should have escaped long ago.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Astronomers first spotted this primordial supernova in March, thanks to a 10-second-long flash of high-energy light known as a gamma-ray burst.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 9 Dec. 2025
The Ain Samiya goblet, discovered in the West Bank in 1970, is the subject of new research about how ancient people viewed the universe — and primordial chaos — in antiquity.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primordial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primordial
Adjective
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The unique find follows a long list of discoveries related to ancient Rome in recent months.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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The bronze doors and concrete walls with remarkably few windows looked ancient, and the building more closely resembled a student dormitory awaiting demolition than an institution where precious cultural assets from around the world were collected and stored.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Mobile computing started with devices that now seem laughably primitive.—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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That means camping at the stunning Roaring Brook Campground is primitive (and only an option in the summer), so make sure to pack plenty of water, food, and headlamps.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Gorilla trekking in Rwanda while staying at Wilderness Bisate Reserve is, without question, one of the world’s most profound and primal wildlife encounters.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
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In the film, McAdams plays Linda, a timid employee who is stranded on a desert island with her sleazy boss (Dylan O’Brien) and begins to resort to a more primal personality.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
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Officials recently flagged signs at Big Bend National Park in Texas that referenced geology, fossils, and prehistoric history, some of which were written in both Spanish and English.—
Outside,
Outside,
28 Jan. 2026
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Each time the movie cuts back to its prehistoric section is a welcome relief.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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American radar installations and military assets there are essential for early warning against Russian and Chinese missile threats.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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Anshel Sag Xreal filed a patent infringement lawsuit against rival AR glasses maker Viture, extending an earlier legal clash that began in Germany.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primordial. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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