1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the central theme of the book
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in middle
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes
will hold the conference in the central part of the country in order to encourage delegates from both coasts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in moderate
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas
with all of the attention being paid to the party's right and left wings, the vast central core has been largely ignored
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
a health club that has become dating central for singles in the area
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 central
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Prior to the surge, the S&P 500—which is central to many Americans' 401(k) retirement accounts—had been down nearly 19 percent from its all-time high set less than two months ago.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 28 Feb. 2024
Flashback: Biden has made revitalizing U.S. manufacturing central to his domestic agenda — and his political identity.
—Neil Irwin, Axios, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for central
Adjective
Tariffs have been central to U.S. trade policy since the country's founding.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Prior to the surge, the S&P 500—which is central to many Americans' 401(k) retirement accounts—had been down nearly 19 percent from its all-time high set less than two months ago.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
The Optimist Also in Germantown, The Optimist is very much seafood central.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 28 Feb. 2024
Flashback: Biden has made revitalizing U.S. manufacturing central to his domestic agenda — and his political identity.
—Neil Irwin, Axios, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for central
Recent Examples of Synonyms for central
Adjective
-
As previously reported, this year’s main competition jury president will be Juliette Binoche, who will oversee the choosing of the Palme d’Or and other festival awards alongside a jury yet to be announced.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The first drop pays homage to Jackson, Wyo., where Season 2 begins, after the two main characters found temporary refuge there in Season 1.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
On the middle floor, where Wade’s cousins used to live, a Ring camera had been installed.—
D. Watkins,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
-
There are five total categories: 20% off for customers who can fit through the smallest space, 15% for the next-smallest space, 10% off for the middle space, 5% off for the next-largest opening and full price for those who can only fit through the largest gap.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The research revealed that even moderate and swing voters in California see undocumented immigrants as essential to the economy, and are worried about the economic fallout from Trump’s pledge to carry out mass deportations, said pollster David Binder.—
Rebecca Plevin,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
One group created a coalition that will lobby members of the current administration for more moderate trade policies, according to the New York Times.—
Shannon Carroll,
Quartz,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Functionality of these three branches and the commensurate endurance of individual liberty center squarely on society’s universal respect for the rule of law.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
The state’s high court can rule on cases involving voting rights and redistricting in a state likely to be at the center of both next year’s midterm elections and the 2028 presidential contest.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Algeria’s western neighbor and primary rival, Morocco, also received its first batch of Akinci drones in February 2025.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
As the cool new kid in town, his Tommy Oliver was transformed into one of the core team of rangers' (Amy Jo Johnson, David Yost, Austin St. John, Walter Emanuel Jones, and Thuy Trang) primary adversaries: the fearsome Green Ranger.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Today, April 1, is the halfway mark between the 2020 and 2030 decennial census counts.—
Julie Menin,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Throughout the first three seasons — with the third currently just past the halfway mark — there has been no shortage of deaths, with even some of the show's biggest stars making unexpected departures.—
Stacy Lambe,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
There are also displays dedicated to how Cartier translated the traditional arts of China, Japan, Iran, Egypt and the Russian Empire, where the House of Fabergé was famed for its decoratively colorful designs.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The idea came from my frustration with traditional methods used to teach hospitality management.—
Betsy Pudliner,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
However, to attract an influx of capital to pay for all the improvements that Hartford urgently needs – in urban development, education, housing, and more – the city must first be able to keep, attract and retain talented, ambitious individuals.—
Nikos Mohammadi,
Hartford Courant,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had dominated the capital for most of the war, with the Sudanese army forced to set up a wartime hub at Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Central.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/central. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share