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

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. 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
The production announced its new principal cast days earlier, with Segers to take on the role of Hades. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 Wasmer had been working at Bear Creek Elementary, Grange Elementary, Sandy Plains Elementary, and Patapsco High School, according to a letter, obtained by WJZ, that the principal of Bear Creek sent to families. — Bryant Reed, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The three principal hero roles remain in active casting along with other key roles. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 30 July 2026 The movement quickly centered its focus on the mismanagement of India’s principal medical college qualifying examination, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, following reports that questions had been leaked prior to the exam. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 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
  • Tim Graef's golden retriever, River, could have been a star in the new film, but didn't make it past the application process.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Her work continued below the arc, scoring against 6-6 star Jonquel Jones and the much taller 6-11 Han Xu.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of star
Adjective
  • Al-Hilal is keen to offload the player, who is training separately from their main squad and not in coach Simoene Inzaghi's plans.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Nazca Lines, ​enormous drawings and ⁠geometric figures etched into desert plains in the south of the country, are one of Peru’s main tourist destinations, attracting approximately ​100,000 annual visitors.
    — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • In a new subscriber-exclusive newsletter, NBC News’ chief data analyst, Steve Kornacki, will get into the numbers, trends and data shaping the biggest stories heading into the midterms.
    — Daniela Suarez, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Disney's chief product and technology officer, Adam Smith, reportedly discussed the possibility of a free tier during an internal company town hall earlier this week.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of chief
Adjective
  • The company has committed to investing at least $1 billion to construct one roughly 300,000-square-foot facility, but the campus could expand to include up to five primary buildings, officials have said.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Whether Castillo and Gausman can return to form and help their respective clubs get deep into October will be a primary storyline here the rest of the year.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Today, perhaps the foremost image of a moderate is that of a centrist on a left-right spectrum.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Briggs, the architect, built a reputation for bespoke luxury homes along the Orange County coast and was named among Architectural Digest’s 100 foremost architects in 1991, according to background materials from the listing team.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • With predominant compensation associated with clinical performance, the other aspects can gradually mount and lead to burnout.
    — Nishtha Sareen, Forbes.com, 4 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
  • The Mariners now sit a game and a half behind the Rangers, who have more of a commanding lead of the American League West.
    — Cal Phillips Updated July 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026
  • That is the commanding nature the Tigers simply would not be the same without.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of commanding
Adjective
  • But the dominant narrative embraced financial metrics as the solvent for every problem.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Yet even before acquiring Skubal, the Dodgers believed that, if healthy, their pitching staff might be the strongest of this dominant era.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominant

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principal
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Cite this Entry

“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of principal for Spanish Speakers

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