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
This means beloved one-hour nightly free swims, and full moon swims with their accompanying primal howls, can continue as usual.
—
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
It's turned out to be a lucky thing for modern civilization, and Hollywood, that dinosaurs, unlike most monsters, don’t seem to stir up any deep, primal discomfort.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 30 June 2025
Restoring the moa would not bring the eagle back but could help at least partly restore the primal New Zealand woodlands.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 July 2025
In this book, scientist Coltan Scrivner acknowledges this most gruesome urge, and provides evidence that it is connected to deep and primal survival instincts.
—Literary Hub
july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
It's turned out to be a lucky thing for modern civilization, and Hollywood, that dinosaurs, unlike most monsters, don’t seem to stir up any deep, primal discomfort.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 30 June 2025
Restoring the moa would not bring the eagle back but could help at least partly restore the primal New Zealand woodlands.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 July 2025
In this book, scientist Coltan Scrivner acknowledges this most gruesome urge, and provides evidence that it is connected to deep and primal survival instincts.
—Literary Hub
july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primal
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
-
Atrium Ljungberg, White Arkitekter A huge, new city is being built in Sweden, but it’s not being constructed using steel or concrete — its main building material is wood.—
Lucy Handley,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
To Win Or Not To Win Is Not The Only Question Once AI was a philosophical question – one that religious and spiritual thinkers from ancient cultures asked to better understand the laws of nature.—
Pia Lauritzen,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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However, Thailand does not recognize the ICJ’s jurisdiction and claims that some areas along the border were never fully demarcated, including the sites of several ancient temples.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
24 July 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
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Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
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No, corn sweat is not the primary cause behind the heat wave Cincinnati is experiencing this week.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
24 July 2025
-
The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death.—
Andrew Dalton,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
As for the chthonic powers who might intrude upon us, the worst must be the Titans, primeval offspring of Gaia and Uranus, Earth and Sky.—
Lewis Hyde,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
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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
Adjective
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Starting off small: Growth from primordial black holes The team behind these observations of QSO1 with the JWST points out that the concept of primordial black holes is one that has grown in favor over the last four decades.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
9 July 2025
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Colossal scientists will extract primordial germ cells—or cells that develop into egg and sperm—from a tinamou or emu embryo and rewrite their genome to match key features of the moa.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Where in the past the predominant parties would at least pay lip service by either demanding higher taxes or lower spending, that appears to be out the window in DC these days.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
24 July 2025
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Your predominant dosha—whether vata, pitta, or kapha—affects everything from your personality to your sleep tendencies.—
Anjana Rajbhandary,
Outside Online,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Taung Child’s remains were found alongside other smaller prey remains and eggshells in what may be a prehistoric raptor’s nest.—
Joshua Rapp Learn,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 July 2025
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The Neumark-Nord site in central Germany is turning out to be a prehistoric goldmine, and not just for bones.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primal. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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