PRIMORDIAL Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

primordial

adjective

prī-ˈmȯr-dē-əl

Definition of primordial

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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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 In fact, these tiny primordial black holes may live long enough to become energy-spewing white holes with the mass of a human eyebrow hair. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 June 2026 That would seemingly favor a primordial black hole as the source, although that would likely require it to have grown by a factor of 10 in the 700 million years of its existence. — ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026 Previous studies have suggested that Triton may have been captured by Neptune’s gravity after a close pass and flung inward to smash into Neptune’s primordial satellite system. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 May 2026 His new films taps into the mood in his native Russia in 2022 with a twist-laden tale of privilege, betrayal, jealously, primordial survival instinct and compromise in a Russian provincial city. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for primordial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for primordial

Adjective

These fashion houses interpreted the pearls as decorative elements with both ancient and ultramodern appeal.

— Selene Oliva, Glamour, 13 July 2026
Elizabeth Pupo-Walker on percussion, who found an old ancient rusted paper cutter at Concord and loved the sound of it, so that’s on there at the beginning off .

— Chris Willman, Variety, 13 July 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

After observation, scientists learned the meteorite was a CM1/2 carbonaceous chondrite -- an exceptionally rare and primitive type of meteorite, according to a paper published in Science Advances on Wednesday.

— Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 July 2026
There are two types of primitive CM meteorites — CM1 and CM2 — and the biggest difference between them is how much water altered their composition while they were attached to a larger asteroid.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Definition of primitive

Adjective

Many of the messages are peddling a sense of pride and belonging — primal impulses at the heart of the MAGA movement.

— Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Watching a mother turtle haul herself ashore under a canopy of stars to lay her eggs is a truly primal and humbling sight.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026

Definition of primal

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

Definition of primeval

Adjective

The site was dated to a late prehistoric era in Thailand, a period of human settlement also known as the Iron Age, established to be around 1,500 to 2,500 years ago.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Marine diets have been documented in modern wolves living in coastal Alaska and British Columbia, but researchers say there is no previous evidence of wolves in prehistoric Scandinavia relying so heavily on seafood.

— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

Definition of prehistoric

Adjective

In a statement, historic preservation group Historic KC said the building once served as the headquarters of the Western Newspaper Union, whose services supplied thousands of weekly newspapers through the country in the early 1900s.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
The final plan, announced Thursday, includes early voting sites at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, Afton Ridge Library, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s Kannapolis campus, and Cabarrus County EMS Headquarters.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Definition of early

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primogenitors

primordial

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“Primordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primordial. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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