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
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 principal
Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
More of your monthly payment goes toward the principal, which accelerates the process and saves time and money.
—Christina Majaski, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Nichelle Cole, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Additional principal cast members include Lisa Helmi Johanson, Eddie Korbich, Remi Tuckman, Yair Keydar, Adam Pascal and Tamkia Lawrence.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
It was enacted in part to help pay principal and interest on new debt Orland Park expects to issue to pay for infrastructure work, according to the village.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
More of your monthly payment goes toward the principal, which accelerates the process and saves time and money.
—Christina Majaski, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Nichelle Cole, an HR and workforce optimization expert, is the principal HR consultant and lead strategist at NCPR World.
—Nichelle Cole, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Additional principal cast members include Lisa Helmi Johanson, Eddie Korbich, Remi Tuckman, Yair Keydar, Adam Pascal and Tamkia Lawrence.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Noun
-
How to see the Lyrids The meteors seem to emerge – or radiate – from the constellation Lyra, specifically a bright star named Vega, according to astronomers.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Now, last month, there was another star of the big screen in the ring, coaxing Cena to go over to the dark side.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As previously reported, this year’s main competition jury president will be Juliette Binoche, who will oversee the choosing of the Palme d’Or and other festival awards alongside a jury yet to be announced.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The first drop pays homage to Jackson, Wyo., where Season 2 begins, after the two main characters found temporary refuge there in Season 1.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Extreme temperatures are fueled by the climate crisis, the chief driver of which is the burning of fossil fuels.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
-
That result was no surprise, according to Mitchell Elkind, MD, the chief clinical science officer at the American Heart Association.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The port has a heavy military presence in addition to being a primary hub for fuel imports, Yemeni sources said.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Trump soundly won the GOP primary race in 2016 and carried Florida in the general election.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Ryan Ferrier,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The Iranians are responding to several inducements, foremost among them the staggering array of forces the United States has prepositioned in the Middle East.—
The Editors,
National Review,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Since launching his campaign in March, Cuomo has taken a commanding lead in the polls and siphoned some of Adams’s old political coalition.—
David Sivak,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The Big Cat still holds a commanding lead in career earnings at $120,999,166.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Common cold and flu are hitting hardest, with influenza A the predominant strain.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Federal agents found photos of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s supreme leader that had been deleted in a folder on Alawieh’s cell phone, a source familiar with the case told CNN.—
Andy Rose,
CNN,
20 Mar. 2025
-
But this year, the roundball — not the pigskin — reigns supreme.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC News,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share