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
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Recent Examples of principal
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Typically more compact and traditionally (but not definitively) armless, side chairs can easily join an existing ensemble of furniture in several rooms, points out Lara Apelian, principal and founder of Lara Apelian Studio.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
Lacey Ramburger, The Spruce, 5 Jan. 2026
Virginia Halas McCaskey was the principal owner of the team until her death in February 2025 at 102.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
Barros is currently the managing principal at Civitas, and was previously the executive director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Typically more compact and traditionally (but not definitively) armless, side chairs can easily join an existing ensemble of furniture in several rooms, points out Lara Apelian, principal and founder of Lara Apelian Studio.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Search for Vintage Pieces Rather than searching for brand-new accessories, Michelle Accetta, founder and principal designer of Michelle Accetta Home, recommends going for vintage pieces.
—Lacey Ramburger, The Spruce, 5 Jan. 2026
Virginia Halas McCaskey was the principal owner of the team until her death in February 2025 at 102.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Noun
-
The White Lotus breakout star and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television, Aimee Lou Wood, held hands with her beau Adam Long.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Kittle is one of many 49ers stars to be injured this season and unable finish the biggest game of the season.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And one of its main ingredients was a hair product – Afro Sheen.—
Sonari Glinton,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Then the Orion capsule will fire up its main thruster and shoot off towards the Moon on its 240,000-mile, four-day journey.—
The Week,
TheWeek,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Adam Yost is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and chief technology officer at Elevated Roofing and Siding.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Especially, Devers claimed, because he had been promised long-term positional security when then-chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom signed him to the extension.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Incorporate elements such as scented hand soaps or fragrant eucalyptus branches in an en suite bathroom to give your primary suite a spa-like feel.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Following earlier issues with its primary IMU, the mission switched to a backup unit that experienced accelerated wear, leaving MAVEN unable to fully rely on either system.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Travelers often worry about coming off as rude or offending someone, but your personal safety is foremost, so trust your gut.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Half of the finance chiefs surveyed named digital transformation as their foremost priority for 2026, followed by cash management optimization and capital allocation.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
At this point, Lawrence needs a commanding postseason display to turn that around.—
Larry Holder,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Colorado Avalanche solidified their lead atop the Central Division on Sunday, emphatically, building a commanding lead and giving Minnesota Wild fans precious little to cheer about.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Rail transport remained the predominant mode of travel in 1920s America.—
Eric DuVall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Republicans argued race was a predominant factor in drawing the district boundaries, in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments.—
Nidia Cavazos,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There are shades of Jean-Paul Sartre’s Nausea here, the supreme dislocation of being a person in a world where others are so utterly unknowable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The demonstrations are the biggest Iran has seen in years — protests spurred by the collapse of Iranian currency that have morphed into a larger test of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s repressive rule.—
Aamer Madhani,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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