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
For one thing, human brains appear to be wired for short term gains, a kind of primal instinct of survival that puts a premium on what could be captured today.
—
Harry Kraemer, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
At their heart is some primal fear: that evil, or evil people, can control us without our even realizing it.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Harry Kraemer, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
At their heart is some primal fear: that evil, or evil people, can control us without our even realizing it.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primal
Adjective
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The 9a's main camera takes 12MP images thanks to pixel binning, and the resulting shots are nearly identical to the Pixel 9 Pro's.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
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Approach with caution, look at reviews, and maybe don’t use your main credit card (or at least keep your bank’s dispute line handy).—
Francesca Krempa,
StyleCaster,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nobody had ever birthed a mammal that had ancient DNA in it.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
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The company decided on the dire wolf for two main reasons: their ancient DNA was available, and they can safely be born using a surrogate.—
Andrea Marks,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 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
-
Since then, some of the key elements have been incorporated into NASA's Design Reference Missions, still the primary set of plans for reaching Mars.—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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The primary suite is a private retreat with a quiet patio, spacious loft area and large his-and-her walk-in closets — complete with a shoe wall and sitting.—
David Caraccio,
Sacramento Bee,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The campground setting has a primeval feel, situated in dense old growth forest along the scenic Smith River, where banana slugs frolic (okay, maybe move slowly and strangely).—
Jenna Blough,
Outside Online,
8 Apr. 2025
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The little mountain park lay almost at our feet, a gem of unspoiled primeval beauty.—
Percy Brown,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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To get around that, the scientists first tap into the fertilized egg of a pink pigeon and extract what are known as primordial germ cells (PGCs)—the cells that eventually become sperm and egg.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Apr. 2025
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My body, equipped with the primordial fear of starvation, was a formidable foe.—
Emma Pattee,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In 2000, Smithfield Foods, the state’s predominant producer of hogs, agreed to pay $1 per hog produced in the state — for a total of up to $2 million — into a fund, with part of that money used to research more environmentally friendly ways of handling hog waste.—
Gavin Off,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2025
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Common cold and flu are hitting hardest, with influenza A the predominant strain.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Part of what makes America beautiful is its special creatures like the prehistoric-looking Mojave desert tortoise, whose survival in Nevada is more dire since a federal grant awarded to protect it from being run over by cars is among the frozen grants.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Yet, no evidence of cooking or consumption has been found—unlike some other prehistoric sites where frog bones bear cut marks or signs of burning.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primal. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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