as in star
the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show
my cousin is one of the principals in a new sitcom this fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
our principal reason for coming here today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chief
highest in rank or authority
the principal researcher in the company's chemical division
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of principal
Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
Wallace has been charged with simple escape and principal to help someone escape, according to Sticker.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 23 May 2025
Caitlin Cipolla-McCulloch, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
Meredith McKenzie is the owner and principal designer at The Selective Design in Macon, Georgia.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
The teacher relayed a part of the conversation in which the kids describe a girl disappearing into a room with several Sac High football players.
Sept. 28, 2023
The teacher who sent the first couple reports sent another email to the principal the following day.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
Wallace has been charged with simple escape and principal to help someone escape, according to Sticker.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 23 May 2025
Adjective
The fiesta patronal of La Virgen de la Puerta begins annually on Dec. 14, with the principal day observed on Dec. 15, and concludes on Dec. 16.
—Caitlin Cipolla-McCulloch, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
Meredith McKenzie is the owner and principal designer at The Selective Design in Macon, Georgia.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Noun
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Meanwhile, Elizabeth took off, Joel started drinking and this marked the beginning of a spiral for the star.—
Daniela Avila,
People.com,
6 June 2025
-
There is not normally an upside to losing a star player through injury for a lengthy period, but Kaoru Mitoma’s absence from the last 16 games of the 2023-24 season had a silver lining for Brighton & Hove Albion.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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
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It was later expanded to include four main ventilation channels (and some 50,000 smaller shafts) serving seven levels, which could be closed off from the inside with a large rolling stone.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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The best thing small businesses can do right now is to be flexible and diversify their sourcing and procurement strategies, says Tala Akhavan, chief operating officer of Pietra, a platform that helps brands with sourcing, production and logistics among other services.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
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Two years later, JPMorgan Chase hired her away, but not as chief sustainability officer, a role common at most large investment banks around the world and a position already filled at JPMorgan.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
The gluteus medius muscle, a smaller buttock muscle located underneath the gluteus maximus, is the primary muscle supporting the pelvis. 4.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
5 June 2025
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Joe Schoen and Daboll already are giving a ton of key players days and weeks off this spring, limiting the football that some of their primary contributors are playing.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
The foremost conflict playing out across the Middle East today is between Israel and Iran, a nation that already possesses a sophisticated and large-scale nuclear program.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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The Thunder will take a commanding 3-1 lead to their home court on Wednesday when the series shifts back to Oklahoma City.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2025
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There were the three thrilling games for the Florida Panthers against the Carolina Hurricanes in this Eastern Conference final, too, so full of drama and nastiness and easy wins to take a commanding 3-0 lead.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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But the predominant theme of the debate was Cuomo facing attacks from the eight other candidates, who laced into him on everything from public safety and education to affordable housing production and the ex-governor’s integrity.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
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Apparently natural selection among the Uru, Aymara and Quechua peoples of the Bolivian Altiplano took DNA sequences that are present but rare in other populations around the world and increased their frequency to the point where the normally uncommon sequences are predominant in these groups.—
Kermit Pattison,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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There are not enough smart Americans alone to remain supreme in scientific research.—
Jim Nowlan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 May 2025
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Iran’s supreme leader has also downplayed the prospect of an imminent agreement with the U.S. on its nuclear capabilities, despite Trump’s public optimism.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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