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
In a similar incident last year, an 18-year-old student fatally stabbed a 51-year-old deputy principal and an 18-year-old student at a high school in northern Slovakia. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Chicagoans will soon elect the Chicago Board of Education president for the first time ever, and among the four candidates running is incumbent board member and former Chicago Public Schools principal Jessica Biggs. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Adjective
After principal photography wrapped, many months would be spent in post-production augmenting the voices to create the right tone and weave them into the overall soundscape. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026 Liz Williams is the founder and principal designer of Liz Williams Interiors. — The Spruce, 25 Sep. 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
  • There’s also a large firepit for cuddling up under the stars with a cocktail or two.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Thomas is also betting big on his own go-to-market skills, having led the digital expansion of Dude Wipes over the last five years, as well as his partner’s star power and the brand’s custom formulas, which present a uniquely floral scent.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of star
Adjective
  • Homegrown chip design firm SkyeChip also enjoyed a blockbuster IPO on the Bursa Malaysia stock exchange in May, surging 300% on its main market debut.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • AbdulSalam Mohammed, president of the Abaad Studies & Research Center and an adviser to Yemen’s Information Ministry, told the Washington Examiner that government forces are currently focused on defending against the Houthis along three main axes.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • The places with the biggest insurance gaps are those where heavy precipitation flooding occurs away from large water bodies, said Jeremy Porter, the chief economist at First Street.
    — MICHAEL PHILLIS, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Ford said prioritizing his employees and the communities his company impacts is chief among his values.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of chief
Adjective
  • The war crimes that were brought to the fore on the stage by Macklemore’s speech are the ones that should be the primary focus.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Simmons made some phenomenal throws all over the field, including to his primary receiver, Cayden Lee.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Founded in 1937, the Fashion Scholarship Fund is the fashion industry’s foremost education and workforce development nonprofit.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Making the roster more functional will be the foremost objective for whomever Crane chooses to replace Brown.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • The predominant suites—all of which have generous outdoor space—are spread across four buildings whose Indonesian names translate to mountain, hill, plateau and valley.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Through the year 2027, architecture convergence will remain predominant, meaning centralized computing, zonal designs, maturing OTA functionality, shareable and reusable software platforms and stronger hardware/software modularity.
    — Rajjie Sarmey, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • Kirkwood had a commanding lead before Palou's spin caused a caution.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Adrián Marín set up the play with his pass to Tiago as Orlando took what seemed to be a commanding lead in the second half.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanding
Adjective
  • One is reminded of Toni Morrison, whose refusal to pander to the dominant gaze — whose insistence on writing about Black characters without regard for whoever else might be reading — unlocked its own kind of universality.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • However, the iMac's M4 chip performed better in both single-core contests (representative of the most basic tasks) and Adobe Photoshop, where Macs have been dominant for years.
    — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominant

Browse Nearby Words

princesses
principal
principalities
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Cite this Entry

“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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