Synonyms of main

main 1 of 2

adjective

as in primary

coming before all others in importance

this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary

Synonyms & Similar Words

• primary
• predominant
• greatest
• highest
• dominant
• foremost
• first
• big
• key
• central
• principal
• leading
• chief
• supreme
• great
• paramount
• overriding
• cardinal
• major
• prior
• premier
• top
• primal
• master
• sovereign
• capital
• number one
• No. 1
• overbearing
• important
• distinguished
• grand
• outstanding
• preeminent
• notable
• arch
• sovran
• noteworthy
• overmastering
• senior
• prestigious
• eminent
• numero uno
• illustrious
• signal
• high-level
• stellar
• superior
• influential
• star
• significant
• famous
• noble
• momentous
• mighty
• incomparable
• unequalled
• famed
• unparalleled
• renowned
• celebrated
• unequaled
• unsurpassed
• matchless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• last
• least
• minor
• secondary
• slight
• unimportant
• trivial
• insignificant
• negligible
• subordinate
• inferior
• collateral
• inconsequential
• inconsiderable
• trifling
• subsidiary

main

2 of 2

noun

ˈmān 

1

as in power

muscular strength

all their might and main could not budge the stalled car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• power
• muscle
• beef
• thew
• energy
• force
• might
• brawn
• vigor
• potency
• sinew
• puissance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakness
• impotence
• impotency
• frailty
• feebleness
• debility
• infirmity
• debilitation
• faintness
• enfeeblement
• frailness

2

as in continent

one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division

islanders periodically traveled back to the main for supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• continent
• mainland
• landmass
• subcontinent
• supercontinent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• island
• key
• islet
• isle
• atoll
• coral reef
• peninsula
• cape
• barrier reef
• promontory
• headland
• cay

3

as in core

the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts

the main of the tree is still healthy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• core
• body
• bulk
• weight
• majority
• chief
• staple
• essence
• whole
• bottom
• mass
• entirety
• middle
• center
• burden
• root
• nature
• heart
• focus
• substance
• brunt
• sum
• generality
• subject
• amount
• matter
• total
• heft
• meat
• kernel
• theme
• topic
• nucleus
• hub
• soul
• quantum
• aggregate
• totality
• marrow
• text
• stuff
• seat
• argument
• point
• sum total
• motif
• crux
• gist
• pitch
• essentiality
• pith
• affair
• nut
• quintessence
• nub
• purport

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extension
• component
• element
• part
• section
• adjunct
• accessory
• ingredient
• constituent
• segment
• side
• appendage
• offshoot
• division
• piece
• accessary
• feature
• aspect
• quality
• angle
• facet

Examples of main in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Bedard’s main wing last season, Kurashev played on the second line with Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi on Tuesday. —Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2024

Now Northvolt faces a cash crunch, after a production ramp-up faltered at its main plant near the Arctic Circle. —Sydney Lake, Fortune Europe, 9 Oct. 2024

Noun

All three mains end up dead, but the truth, of course, still outs—and, in the process, puts a weirdly heroic spin on Price's Unbreakable-era atrocities. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 1 Aug. 2024

The menu also includes some veg-forward sides like haystack zucchini and sweet potato fries, two types of burgers (one classic and one green chile) and mains like moules frites and hachi parmentier (the French version of shepherd’s pie). —Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 8 May 2024

Phrases Containing main

• coup de main
• with might and main