cardinal

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cardinal different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cardinal are essential, fundamental, and vital. While all these words mean "so important as to be indispensable," cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends.

a cardinal rule in buying a home

Where would essential be a reasonable alternative to cardinal?

The meanings of essential and cardinal largely overlap; however, essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

conflict is essential in drama

When could fundamental be used to replace cardinal?

The words fundamental and cardinal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse.

fundamental principles of algebra

When is vital a more appropriate choice than cardinal?

While in some cases nearly identical to cardinal, vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation.

cut off from vital supplies

Examples of cardinal in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web This occurs when the four cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn — challenge one another, which can feel like a tug-of-war between priorities. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024 Shred cheese: As always, follow one of the cardinal rules of casserole making in the South: Shred your own cheese. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2024 And back to the original inhabitants, the Cherokee, who still live here, and still follow the belief that there are not four but seven cardinal directions: North, south, east and west, sure. Michael Graff, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024 The designer leaned into all that Butler absorbed from his travels, using that worldliness as her cardinal design direction. Nick Mafi, Architectural Digest, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cardinal 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal
Adjective
  • The zinc gradually lost its hold on the cables suspending the telescope’s main platform over the reflector dish.
    Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • The measure’s main opponents, the state Republican Party and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, did not appear to raise any money to campaign against the proposition.
    Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Alpha Genesis is responsible for the maintenance, feeding, and veterinary care of monkeys at its primary facility in Yemassee.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
  • In his request for a restraining order, Chigvintsev claimed that Garcia had been the primary aggressor.
    Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • One search through artificial intelligence chatbots generates an exponential amount of 25 times more electricity than a Google search and will become the predominant energy consumer across several countries in a mere number of years.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Beijing is used to being the predominant external powerbroker with respect to the North and aims first and foremost to maintain balance and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
    Daniel DePetris, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Christianity in particular has become a dominant feature of Kirk’s rhetoric and Turning Point USA.
    Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Republicans have been dominant with them in the last 20 years, but with the growing Latino and Asian American populations, white voters have been on a sharp decline as a share of the electorate since the 1990s.
    Earl Carr, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Over the years, the emirate has become a magnet for international entrepreneurs, investors and family offices, transforming the city into one of the world’s foremost hubs for private wealth management.
    Dubai Tourism Contributor, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Her mother Holly Thomas, who served as her foremost role model, confidante, and motivator, had died the previous year from a brain tumor.
    Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • In March 2023, Enrico Lopez-Yañez was named principal pops conductor for the Pacific Symphony, and in October of this year Limor Tomer was tapped to be the new vice president to head performing arts programs at Segerstrom Center.
    Samantha Dunn, Orange County Register, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Bumble completed the acquisition of Geneva Technologies, Inc. for $17.5 million, with the principal assets being a social networking and communications platform.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Both defenses are stepping up after these teams combined for 79 points in their first matchup, which is the highest scoring game in the NFL so far this season.
    NBC News, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Many families have to wait months to receive the first appointment with a mental health professional through their insurance and then have to wait three to four months again to have the second appointment.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Now comes perhaps his biggest challenge yet: Taking over a San Jose Earthquakes team that finished last in the entire league and gave up the most goals (78) in MLS history.
    Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • That's 70 million monthly active users globally, a big jump from the 5 million Netflix reported in May 2023.
    Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Cardinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on cardinal

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