primordial

adjective

prī-ˈmȯr-dē-əl How to pronounce primordial (audio)
Definition of primordialnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of primordial So evolving from the ocean to the land, just like any primordial creature would. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 Measurements of primordial deuterium, taken throughout the 21st century, tell cosmologists the density of particles like protons and neutrons with extreme precision. — Cara Giovanetti, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026 Planting fake dark matter signals There are several candidates for what dark matter could be, including primordial black holes or an undiscovered particle. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026 Their results recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters signal a major breakthrough in quantum physics—one that indicates a primordial quark-gluon plasma soup is actually possible with lighter ingredients. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primordial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primordial
  1. ancient
  2. primitive
  3. primal
  4. primeval
  5. prehistoric
  6. early
Adjective
  • The team from Germany, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland said analysis of hair in the royal tomb where cannabis seeds turned up, sheds new light on the plant's role in ancient societies.
    — Mary Evans, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Standard calculations predict more primordial lithium-7 than astronomers observe in ancient stars.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of ancient
Adjective
  • For more experienced hikers seeking extremes, the Backcountry Trail is a rugged seven-mile trek with steep grades passing primitive campsites, perfect for spending the night underneath the stars.
    — Judith Garrison, AJC.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The designers were also working with hardware that looks primitive by today’s standards.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of primitive
Adjective
  • In his stories, Poe dedicated himself to writing about the dark side of human experience — our most primal fears and most unspeakable secrets.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Writing the book also led me to recognize that the loneliness epidemic has some primal roots.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of primal
Adjective
  • The work required felling primeval trees measuring six feet in diameter and digging a deep trench through the marsh to accommodate boat traffic.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Yeti takes place deep in the Alps, where an avalanche has unleashed something primeval from the glacial ice.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of primeval
Adjective
  • With their prehistoric dispersal methods long gone, are these trees at risk?
    — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The dinosaur attacks have at least one upside, though, as running from the prehistoric beasts forces Denise and Greg to overcome their marital tension.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of prehistoric
Adjective
  • From crisp cotton sheets to cozy comforters and decorative quilts, early holiday sales are already giving shoppers plenty of reasons to give their bedroom a refresh.
    — Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The shooting took place early Monday morning at Moss Landing State Beach.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of early

Browse Nearby Words

primogenitors
primordial
primp
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Cite this Entry

“Primordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primordial. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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