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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
our principal reason for coming here today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chief
highest in rank or authority
the principal researcher in the company's chemical division
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of principal
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
When a strange man lurks around the school asking supposedly innocent questions and the principal receives a severed human finger in the mail, the community is in an uproar.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
The operators in the Denver-Julesburg Basin have largely figured out how to work in Colorado’s regulatory environment, said Ryan Hill, principal analyst at Enverus, an energy analytics and data company.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
The inciting incident for the new story comes after the principal of the high school receives a severed human finger in the mail, sending the parents into an uproar.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
When a strange man lurks around the school asking supposedly innocent questions and the principal receives a severed human finger in the mail, the community is in an uproar.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
From selecting and renewing school principal contracts to approving budgetary resources and academic plans, members of local school councils play an important role in the country’s fourth-largest public school district.
—Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
The operators in the Denver-Julesburg Basin have largely figured out how to work in Colorado’s regulatory environment, said Ryan Hill, principal analyst at Enverus, an energy analytics and data company.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Noun
-
On this Wednesday’s episode of The Run-Through, Doja Cat—Vogue’s April cover star and the host of the second annual Vogue Vintage Market—calls in from her dining room in Los Angeles.—
Alexandra Di Palma,
Vogue,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Kansas City Royals star Maikel Garcia shined on the national stage.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Iranian strikes in Israel came after Tehran's main nuclear enrichment site at Natanz was hit earlier in the day.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Manchester City Liverpool fans have mostly sided with their main title rival of the past decade, with over 70 per cent wanting City to win the league.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Often referred to as the state’s chief fiscal officer, the state comptroller pays the state’s bills, monitors fiscal compliance, records transactions and contracts and issues reports that guide the governor and legislature on budget decisions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In Brussels, the European Union's chief diplomat Kaja Kallas noted Tuesday that Russia stands to gain from higher energy prices and the rerouting of advanced Western air defense systems from Ukraine to the Middle East.—
JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Not everyone is happy with the change, including those who see it as more of an adaptation to partisanship and primary politics.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
About 30 states are continuing the fight on their own to break up the company from Ticketmaster, which controls 80% of major concert venues’ primary ticketing.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the city’s leading trade promotion agency, the event has grown over three decades into Asia’s foremost marketplace for film and television content.—
Faye Bradley,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Jackson Hinkle, the foremost American Putinophile of his generation, was less restrained than the Guardian columnist.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s something new at work — a cultural hairpin turn — in the way that Apple is made out to be a figure of commanding but toxic damage.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Republicans have a less commanding lead, 52-44, among Catholics.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And what’s so predominant is the characters are no bigger than the story.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Dark green is the predominant color in this manicure even though a black shade serves as the base.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Mojtaba Khamenei replaced his father, Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader after the ayatollah was killed at the start of the war.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Airstrikes have also killed its supreme leader, the head of its Supreme National Security Council and a raft of other top-ranking military and political leaders.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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