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
Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Cindy Ueckert, a La Jolla High associate principal, said Olivares and Park told school administrators, including Principal Chuck Podhorsky, about the event as early as August.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Vessel-tracking data suggests the Harmony network forms an arc stretching from Murmansk eastward to Novaya Zemlya and north to Franz Josef Land, effectively a tripwire guarding the Northern Fleet’s principal bases.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
The principal didn’t immediately realize the alert had been canceled, a spokesperson for Baltimore County Public Schools told WBAL.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Cindy Ueckert, a La Jolla High associate principal, said Olivares and Park told school administrators, including Principal Chuck Podhorsky, about the event as early as August.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Normally, a lump sum for back benefits would be taxable in the year it was paid out, but there is an option called the Social Security lump-sum election method, says Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Vessel-tracking data suggests the Harmony network forms an arc stretching from Murmansk eastward to Novaya Zemlya and north to Franz Josef Land, effectively a tripwire guarding the Northern Fleet’s principal bases.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Noun
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The photos showed the reality TV star sitting in an emergency room chair holding an ice pack to his face.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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On possession after possession, González picked up Brunson full court and tried his best to pester the Knicks star.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His officials at the time, including Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger, made Beijing their main priority.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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Reinhart, Apa, Petsch, and Mendes were four of only six Riverdale main cast members to stay on for the full series run.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Six months after a high-profile arrest and indictment of a judge at the Milwaukee County Courthouse complex, the county's chief judge has yet to issue a formal policy about what leeway federal immigration agents have to operate in the county's halls of justice.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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At the other end of the spectrum, Macquarie’s chief economist, David Doyle, tells Fortune that while Washington isn’t necessarily shaping its policy because of imminent recessionary fears, policymakers will be keen to maintain growth.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Two guest bedrooms can be found downstairs, while four more upstairs bedrooms include a secluded primary retreat that comes with a fireplace, a dressing room, and dual baths.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
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This corner room offered the perfect view to keep watch over Main Street and the primary north-south international highway.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Goodall was seen as the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees after spending decades studying them in the wild in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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The 2019 Nationals aren’t even the foremost road warriors of the last few years.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Since the late 90s, Jungen has forged a name for himself internationally through his commanding sculptural practice.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That confident tight-wire act, with its time shifts and various mini-characterizations, was a useful precedence for her here as the predominant presence in this three-performer, intermissionless piece.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
14 Oct. 2025
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Aspen groves are not as predominant here and hikers will find a wider array of colors due to the range of deciduous tree varieties fed by additional moisture from springs and creeks.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Meet fellow caffeine lovers, sample local roasts and learn from Cincinnati's supreme latte artists.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
22 Oct. 2025
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Our experts rate Hisense TVs highly in their reviews, for their supreme performance at a great value, and this TV is cut from the same cloth.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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