as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
all life on Earth supposedly came from a primordial ooze in existence many millions of years ago
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Recent Examples of primordial
Across much of eastern North America, from Tennessee through Nova Scotia, skunk cabbage emerges before the vernal equinox in mid-March, pushing out of the snow and frozen mud like some primordial progenitor of the warmer weather to come.
—
Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
That might mean there are more primordial megacomets awaiting discovery.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
Scientists also revealed that these plumes, originating between the depths of 1,000 and 2,800 km (621 and 1,740 miles), contain varying isotopes, possibly from primordial mantle material, which makes the region slightly hotter than the surrounding mantle.
—Jay Kakade
july 05, New Atlas, 5 July 2025
That would mean the centrifugal force arising from a spinning universe becomes a force acting in all directions away from the universe's parent primordial white hole.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for primordial
Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
That might mean there are more primordial megacomets awaiting discovery.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
Scientists also revealed that these plumes, originating between the depths of 1,000 and 2,800 km (621 and 1,740 miles), contain varying isotopes, possibly from primordial mantle material, which makes the region slightly hotter than the surrounding mantle.
—Jay Kakade
july 05, New Atlas, 5 July 2025
That would mean the centrifugal force arising from a spinning universe becomes a force acting in all directions away from the universe's parent primordial white hole.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for primordial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primordial
Adjective
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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
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Because they were never built to last, Iceland doesn’t boast any ancient buildings and that’s why the country’s medieval manuscripts are lovingly known as the Cathedrals of Iceland.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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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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The touch of the grill is felt in every corner of the room, like a high-sillage perfume made of the primal, appetite-turbocharging molecules of smoke and meat and sweetness.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
20 July 2025
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Long before Trump and his MAGA acolytes, Modi understood how the primal power of blood could be deployed against the delicate bloom of ideas and abstractions.—
Aatish Taseer,
Time,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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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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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
Adjective
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This case follows four others in Kentucky in early July, and at least 12 total cases in the state this year, mostly among unvaccinated individuals.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 July 2025
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In early 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Zalupski to the University of Florida Board of Trustees.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primordial. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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