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
as in stars
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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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
Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Other updates will limit the number of student assessments, while adding trainings for district superintendents, principals and teachers.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
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
Noun
Clearly, the two principals in the trade are Gimenez and Horwitz.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Other updates will limit the number of student assessments, while adding trainings for district superintendents, principals and teachers.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Adjective
-
The investment firm said Advanced Auto Parts might be losing market share to its main rivals and that the stock appears to be trading at an extended valuation.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
24 June 2025
-
One voter in Greenwich Village told ABC News that concerns about antisemitism were a main driver for his decision to vote for Cuomo.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Randall Lane, chief creative officer of Forbes and creator of the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, addressed the room of Forbes AI 50 honorees.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Dennis Cary, the airline’s senior vice president and chief commercial officer, said Copa will typically review its routes twice a year to gauge demand as the seasons change, but early bookings show promise for the new San Diego flight.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
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
-
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
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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
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
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Rivera is especially excited by the National Music Theater Conference this year since truly original work is developed there in contrast to the predominant commercial theater trend of basing musicals closely on classic movies or novels.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
-
That is clearly what happened in this redistricting in Louisiana where race was the predominant factor used to draw congressional boundaries.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 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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Earlier in the day, Israel’s defense minister threatened Iran’s supreme leader after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Yang said the hybrid ants have become the explorers and front guard for the fire ant invasion into colder and more northerly areas, becoming the dominant fire ant species in the upper elevations of Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.—
Gareth McGrath,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
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The past two years made clear that Israel, with U.S. help, is the dominant military force.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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