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
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Recent Examples of principal
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Schools must follow state mandates on instructional hours, but states typically don’t set strict rules on how long a lunch period should be, so some principals whittle it down to twenty or twenty-five minutes.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Mike Feibus, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Krystal Reinhard is the founder and principal designer of Old Soul Design Studio based in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
An assistant for Jesuit principal Michael Woods also did not immediately respond to a voicemail left Sunday afternoon.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Schools must follow state mandates on instructional hours, but states typically don’t set strict rules on how long a lunch period should be, so some principals whittle it down to twenty or twenty-five minutes.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Mike Feibus is president and principal analyst of FeibusTech, a Scottsdale, Arizona, market research and consulting firm.
—Mike Feibus, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Krystal Reinhard is the founder and principal designer of Old Soul Design Studio based in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Noun
-
The 1970s had seen a mass exodus of Argentina’s star players abroad, particularly to Spain, where a ban on foreign players had recently been lifted.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Country music star Tanya Tucker sang at his bedside.—
Keith Sharon,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Those designing the new main building decided to cut that association, the aim being to make the first-team facilities an area players must aspire to enter.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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In addition, Zacapa, the premium main sponsor of spirits at LAFS, will once again present the Visionary of the Year Award during the summit’s closing cocktail ceremony.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
According to Fu Wentao, chief pilot of the Jiaolong manned submersible, the team expanded the vessel’s usual single-point operating method during the Arctic mission.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Knudsen, chief scientific adviser in research and early development at Novo Nordisk, played a pivotal role in turning it into an effective drug promoting weight loss that millions of people take today.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Pathways, promises and potential are always the primary motivations.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Five years later Augusta had a stroke, with Ed acting as primary caretaker.—
JR Radcliffe,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Goodall was known as the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees after spending decades studying them in the wild in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Jane Goodall, the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees whose work was captured in more than 40 documentaries, died Wednesday in California.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, Reeves became Estragon, the more simplistic and long-suffering of the duo, while Winter tackled Vladimir, the more commanding and verbose character.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Since the late 90s, Jungen has forged a name for himself internationally through his commanding sculptural practice.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The predominant narrative among many springs scientists, advocates and government officials is that rising nitrate levels in springs over the past few decades fuels the growth of excess algae.—
Christopher F. Meindl,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Facebook emerged as the predominant tool—particularly in Egypt and Tunisia—helping organizers broadcast calls to march, circulate videos and connect people across the country to turn out and oust their leaders.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As monarch, Charles is the supreme governor of the Church of England, a role established in the 16th century when King Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church.—
Muvija M,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Thanks to the supreme power of a microchip, the shelter was able to track down his owner, Christian Gonzales.—
TJ Macias,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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