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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primordial
The galaxy also appears to have cleared its surrounding region of primordial hydrogen gas — an unexpected finding, the researchers say, given that the early universe was filled with neutral hydrogen.
—
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Land is a primal word, primordial even, like lava.
—Tommy Orange, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
Giving off Hawking radiation, a primordial black hole that was originally the size of an atomic nucleus would meet its doom in the modern universe, slowly dwindling before ending in a sudden, extreme burst of particles.
—Quanta Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026
That question is a primordial, primitive question that animates many of us our whole lives without realizing it.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primordial
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Land is a primal word, primordial even, like lava.
—Tommy Orange, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
Giving off Hawking radiation, a primordial black hole that was originally the size of an atomic nucleus would meet its doom in the modern universe, slowly dwindling before ending in a sudden, extreme burst of particles.
—Quanta Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026
That question is a primordial, primitive question that animates many of us our whole lives without realizing it.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primordial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primordial
Adjective
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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
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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
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Some futurists compare this development to our primitive ancestors’ discovery of fire.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Shakespeare’s fierce and primal tragedy follows the celebrated warrior who knows how to conquer enemies but not how to win hearts.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Cumming then invited everyone in attendance to join him in a collective primal scream at world events.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Feb. 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
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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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Dating back more than 66 million years to the late Cretaceous period, Trey offers a window into prehistoric life.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
2 Mar. 2026
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Modern threats and conservation Despite its prehistoric resilience, the Old Irish goat now faces a serious modern threat.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
“Primordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primordial. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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