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paramount

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word paramount different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of paramount are dominant, predominant, and preponderant. While all these words mean "superior to all others in influence or importance," paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction.

unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign

When is dominant a more appropriate choice than paramount?

The meanings of dominant and paramount largely overlap; however, dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling.

a dominant social class

Where would predominant be a reasonable alternative to paramount?

While in some cases nearly identical to paramount, predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.

a predominant emotion

When might preponderant be a better fit than paramount?

The synonyms preponderant and paramount are sometimes interchangeable, but preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect.

preponderant evidence in her favor

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 paramount
Noun
Sleep is paramount too: A 2023 study published in the journal Sleep Medicine concluded that not getting enough of it can increase the pain of DOMS. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 18 July 2025 Food safety remains a paramount concern for American households, and the frequency of such issues may influence shopping habits and regulatory responses nationwide. Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025 This enables users to jump in or out of a position immediately—important during live sports events when prices are volatile and quick trade execution is paramount. Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 15 July 2025 And ensuring the fit is right will also remain paramount. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for paramount
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paramount
Adjective
  • The tournament grounds feature three main retail sites: the Centre Court Shop, the No. 1 Court Shop and the Museum Shop, along with five express shops and an additional nine kiosks.
    Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • While your house's main job is to be a comfortable spot to land after a long day, there are still plenty of decorative touches throughout the home, maybe some inspired by Hallie's California-meets-western style.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • And with just 12 villas, Jenner (or you) can have the utmost in privacy.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2025
  • For fashion and beauty, capturing value will be of the utmost importance for consumers.
    Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Gaza health ministry said that 113 people have starved to death in Gaza, most of them in recent weeks.
    Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 27 July 2025
  • Late last year and earlier this year, for several months on most weekdays, a team of more than a dozen health workers fanned out across the city to release Wolbitos.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 26 July 2025
Noun
  • His personal goal was surely the vanity of wanting to have never been wrong and the superpower of always being right—George Orwell speaks of the theological nature of totalitarians, who must constantly alter the past to claim to be always right in the present.
    Rebecca Solnit April 29, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2021
  • Ridicule only appeals to cool kids on coasts and the college towns and totalitarians.
    Letters to the Editor, Orange County Register, 17 Oct. 2020
Noun
  • Why don’t all the rich potentates, sheiks, oligarchs and MAGA dictators meet and fix it?
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
  • With the pandemic, the year-round population of a once-seasonal resort town swelled with Manhattan refugees, those in the Trump orbit, and tech and finance potentates, many of them serious collectors like Ken Griffin and Steve Ross.
    Ben Widdicombe, Vulture, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Just as Russia has declined in its military might since the break-up of the Soviet Union a generation ago, Grossfeld says, its status as one of the globe’s foremost space powers has likewise slipped away.
    Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • But all that nuttiness took place a long time ago, under the influence, and, according to the world’s foremost Ozzy authority, such is not really the case.
    Erik Hedegaard, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • For as much discussion as there has been about lowering interest rates, the bond market will be the ultimate determinate of whether rates can be cut or not.
    JJ Kinahan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Huang also repeated past criticisms of the policies, arguing that the tactic of export controls has been counterproductive to the ultimate goal of U.S. tech leadership.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • The trailer teases fights from the critical tournament, where if Earth's fighters lose, the Outworld overlord Shao Kahn (played by Martyn Ford) will take over.
    Sharareh Drury, People.com, 17 July 2025
  • For now, media overlords are undertaking a delicate dance with AI.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Paramount.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paramount. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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