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
Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025
After earning his degree, Kirkpatrick was due to become a principal within Fort Worth ISD.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 June 2025
Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 June 2025
In the first quarter, Meta’s capital expenditures and principal payments on finance leases approached $14 billion.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
Mercedes' Austrian team principal and CEO Toto Wolff looks on during a practice session for the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 2, 2025.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025
After earning his degree, Kirkpatrick was due to become a principal within Fort Worth ISD.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 June 2025
Adjective
Kirkpatrick began teaching at Clinton Avenue Elementary School, later moving into the vice principal role at I.M. Terrell High School in 1945.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 June 2025
In the first quarter, Meta’s capital expenditures and principal payments on finance leases approached $14 billion.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Noun
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Perhaps the star of the show truck is Iveco’s xCursor 13 engine which produces 500 hp and 2200Nm of torque.—
Trinity Francis,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Dua Lipa's new diamante floral manicure is also still in keeping with the manicure she was spotted wearing in Paris in May, which featured a pink nude base and a strategic placement of tiny silver stars (see slide 18 for a close-up snap).—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
The three main changes House Republicans want to make are to ensure immigrants who are in the United States without legal authorization can’t enroll; create work requirements to be on the program; and prevent federal funding from being used for gender transition care.—
Danielle Battaglia,
Charlotte Observer,
24 June 2025
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Facing a harbor filled with sailboats, Avalon is the island's main tourist hub, and where most tourists will stay, from hotels such as the century-old Hotel Atwater to Airbnbs.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Due to the expense, first-time home buyers in San Jose are also getting older, which may impact school enrollment, said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
-
And the Silver chief financial officer, who was expected to be in court with documents, was a no-show.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Disclosure data shows that more than a dozen lawyers and paralegals with the New York Legal Assistance Group made cash contributions to Mamdani’s campaign ahead of the primary election.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
29 June 2025
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The second floor has the primary suite, which is large and has a private balcony that overlooks the grounds.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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Giard grew up to become both a voracious reader (with a B.A. in English and American literature from Yale and an M.A. in comparative literature from Boston University) and a foremost chronicler of writers.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 June 2025
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One of the Jet Propulsion Lab’s foremost scientists says the futuristic outpost is still hoping against hope that the president’s plan for NASA will be overturned by Congress.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Despite its commanding presence, the Navigator doesn’t drive like a tank.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
17 June 2025
-
The 1794 doesn’t have what was expected, a commanding road presence.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Rivera is especially excited by the National Music Theater Conference this year since truly original work is developed there in contrast to the predominant commercial theater trend of basing musicals closely on classic movies or novels.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
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That is clearly what happened in this redistricting in Louisiana where race was the predominant factor used to draw congressional boundaries.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
The barrage led Israel’s defense minister to overtly threaten Iran’s supreme leader. Israel, meanwhile, struck Iran’s heavy water reactor, part of the country’s nuclear program, which its government insists is meant for peaceful purposes only.—
Elena Becatoros,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
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Earlier in the day, Israel’s defense minister threatened Iran’s supreme leader after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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