1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primal
So what’s unleashed is just this primal anger and frustration.
—
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 May 2025
The film celebrates artists who challenge the status quo and give voice to those on the fringes of society, all accompanied by a soundtrack that mixes traditional Japanese music with the thudding drums, wailing guitar, and primal screams of modern rock.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 7 May 2025
In this whole revelation that’s happened to him, some unexpected, primal thing is released.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 7 May 2025
Survival: Headline When a playoff series reaches Game 6, the matchup becomes primal.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 May 2025
The film celebrates artists who challenge the status quo and give voice to those on the fringes of society, all accompanied by a soundtrack that mixes traditional Japanese music with the thudding drums, wailing guitar, and primal screams of modern rock.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 7 May 2025
In this whole revelation that’s happened to him, some unexpected, primal thing is released.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 7 May 2025
Survival: Headline When a playoff series reaches Game 6, the matchup becomes primal.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primal
Adjective
-
The golden flying snake bears two main color morphs — a green-yellow form sports bold black streaks and occasional reddish dorsal spots, and another form where the same base hues are overlaid with subtler crossbars.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
Homelessness is certainly a major problem, said Julie Hayden, CEO of the East County Transitional Living Center, the area’s main shelter.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
It’s all designed to try to persuade visitors that the biblical story was literally true — that an ancient Noah really could have built such a sophisticated ship.—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
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Scientists have discovered a huge spike in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago by analyzing ancient tree-rings.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
-
Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
-
The primary exception is that every third update does require a reboot, that enables a fuller update that can get to the parts of your PC a hot patch might not reach.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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There are two primary types of retail pharmacies: chain pharmacies, which are operated by larger companies, and independent pharmacies, which are often locally owned.—
Lucas Dufalla,
Arkansas Online,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
The limp is the primeval sign, in many cultural myth systems, of autochthony: humans born from the earth, parentless.—
Nicholas Dames,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
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But in this primeval stage, nearly all of the potential Democratic candidates are discussing problems that have bedeviled their party for years: how to win back working-class voters, how aggressively to oppose President Trump and how to reach voters beyond the traditional news media.—
Lisa Lerer,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
That’s because the five-to-ten-million-year window in time when this gas had such a primordial composition was so short.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
-
By analyzing those subtle orbital tilts, the researchers were able to reverse-engineer Jupiter's primordial size and magnetic strength, according to the new study.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Mercantilism had been the predominant economic model of the prior two centuries, advocating for trade surpluses with all nations.—
Sarah Keohane Williamson,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Fedde was using a steady four-pitch mix, with his sinker being the predominant pitch.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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The obvious difference is the lack of a coastal element, as Sand Valley’s courses are spread across 12,000 acres of prehistoric sand dunes.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
Beneath the surface of Warm Mineral Springs, divers have discovered prehistoric remains dating back 10,000 years.—
Sean Kingsley,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primal. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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