principal 1 of 2

noun

ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəl How to pronounce principal (audio)
Definition of principalnext
as in star
the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show my cousin is one of the principals in a new sitcom this fall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

principal

2 of 2

adjective

ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəl How to pronounce principal (audio)
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance our principal reason for coming here today

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chief
highest in rank or authority the principal researcher in the company's chemical division

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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 principal
Noun
Digital assets involve significant risk, including the possible loss of principal. — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 But Jonathan Mallie, the senior principal and managing director of Populous’ Americas practice in New York City, spoke with the Buffalo News about the fan complaints regarding the stadium’s design. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Georgina Long, PhD, the study’s principal investigator, said the findings show the potential of personalized cancer treatment to reduce melanoma recurrence, or death. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026 Marvell’s shares rose about 8% on the news, extending a rally that has more than tripled their value over the past year, while Broadcom—Google’s principal TPU partner—fell about 5%. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
  1. star
  2. main
  3. chief
  4. primary
  5. foremost
  6. predominant
  7. commanding
  8. dominant
Noun
  • The one-time child star had spoken openly about navigating addiction and postpartum depression in her adult life, documenting those struggles as well as the painful loss of her brother in a memoir released this year.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In the book, the star detailed her prolific and sometimes difficult career in show business; growing up under the harsh light of Hollywood; and the highs and lows of filming hit TV shows like Heroes and Nashville, and more.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of star
Adjective
  • In the Brazilian city of Cuiabá, the mayor, Abílio Brunini, prohibited one such championship from taking place in the city’s main public space.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Next, workers will install new cables, bolted into the five main branches, to stabilize the tree before removing the old supports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Mohammed Zahidullah, chief sustainability officer at DBL Group, warned that Bangladesh risks losing orders to competitors including India, Pakistan and Vietnam as those sourcing markets move more quickly to adopt renewable energy.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Syrianos, previously the global technical director, becomes chief football officer at the City Ground, taking on the role vacated when Ross Wilson departed to join Newcastle last summer.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of chief
Adjective
  • The primary comes as Trump attempts to brush off a string of primary losses, with his 10th endorsed candidate losing in last week’s elections.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The primary hurdle moving forward is integrating efficient extraction technologies into existing treatment infrastructure to yield materials that meet industrial standards.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Jeff Nichols is not only one of cinema’s foremost chroniclers of the American South, but is doing his damnedest to revitalize the film scene in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Similarly, the world’s foremost perfumeries haven’t collaborated with elite motorcar brands.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • As long as the predominant globe-spanning Navy kept the seas free for everyone, there was no reason to be affiliated with any state.
    — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Odyssey is a story set in the Bronze Age, written in the Iron Age, measured by which metal was the predominant metal that went into weapons of war and other kinds of tools.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • Adrián Marín set up the play with his pass to Tiago as Orlando took what seemed to be a commanding lead in the second half.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Arendt comes most fully alive, though, when Meyer lets her own extravagant, commanding voice carry the story forward.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanding
Adjective
  • The Yankees then went on to become baseball’s most dominant franchise - winning 27 World Series titles - while the Red Sox would not taste success for the rest of the 20th century.
    — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • There may even be scenario B, C or D which today appears negligible and which becomes dominant because something happens that our initial model could not anticipate.
    — Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominant

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princesses
principal
principalities
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Cite this Entry

“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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