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
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
-
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
-
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
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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
Adjective
-
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
-
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
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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
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
-
The June 10 vote by the nation’s largest Protestant denomination represents a doubling down on issues of gender and sexuality as the predominant group of evangelical Christians signals the SBC’s hopes of replicating the successful campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
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The predominant toxin associated with FHB infections in the United States is deoxynivalenol (DON), which is also known as vomitoxin because consumption can cause vomiting.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
4 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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Now, with Israel taking out some of his closest aides and senior security figures, as well as significantly weakening its militant Islamic allies across the region, the supreme leader is beginning to look increasingly isolated.—
Ruth Marks Eglash,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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