as in primary
coming before all others in importance
this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in power
muscular strength
all their might and main could not budge the stalled car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of main
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Jan. 2025
Buzz about a possible rift with the film's star Blake Lively reached a fever pitch when Lively appeared to pose alongside all of her main costars, including Brandon Sklenar and Jenny Slate, while Baldoni walked the red carpet with his wife Emily and his family at the New York premiere on Aug. 6.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, 15 Jan. 2025
For mains, the dry-aged Flannery New York strip pairs incredibly with a potato pavé and matsutake mushrooms, while the Liberty duck breast shines with confit potatoes, chanterelle mushrooms, and aged balsamic glaze.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for main 
Adjective
In previous statements issued through Will Gregory Public Relations — which no longer represents Jingle — McKee alleged that missing funds at Jingle were largely attributable to a three-week delay in the arrival of a portable ice rink, one of the Christmas village’s main features.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Jan. 2025
Buzz about a possible rift with the film's star Blake Lively reached a fever pitch when Lively appeared to pose alongside all of her main costars, including Brandon Sklenar and Jenny Slate, while Baldoni walked the red carpet with his wife Emily and his family at the New York premiere on Aug. 6.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
Grab any variety that catches your eye and what once seemed like a side can easily turn into a hearty main.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, 15 Jan. 2025
For mains, the dry-aged Flannery New York strip pairs incredibly with a potato pavé and matsutake mushrooms, while the Liberty duck breast shines with confit potatoes, chanterelle mushrooms, and aged balsamic glaze.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
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Testers consider performance across four primary categories: efficacy, safety (including ease of use), research and the science behind specific claims, as well as product value.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Houston’s primary return in the Pressly trade would be salary relief and some flexibility for other acquisitions.—
Sahadev Sharma,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The reformers driving this movement believed in human progress, scientific management, the use of government power for the public good, and replacing political patronage with the hiring of experts.—
Johnathan K Williams / Made by History,
TIME,
30 Jan. 2025
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Besides in electric and hybrid vehicles, lithium-ion batteries can be found in personal electronics, vaping devices, power tools and home energy storage systems, which have become increasingly popular during California's power outages.—
Danielle Wallace,
Fox News,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The program has already educated and inspired 100 ambassadors from 6 continents and, most importantly, is building a community.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
-
The 10 cities with the most Instagrammed sunrises in the world The most popular cities for sunrise content span five continents Start Slideshow Start Slideshow There’s nothing quite like pausing and taking in the sunrise.—
Madeline Fitzgerald,
Quartz,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Financial success and core values can go hand in hand.—
Goro Gupta,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Mental health considerations have become paramount as writers navigate the pressure to maintain constant visibility while still producing their core product — books.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
23 Jan. 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
-
Still, the predominant thought was his interview was a push by the Bears to fulfill the NFL’s Rooney Rule as the team positions itself to make a head coaching hire.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Scar tissue can also develop from long-term inflammation, often where the muscles of the forearm attach to the elbows.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.—
Rebecca Angel Baer,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Last month, Cyclone Chido claimed the lives of more than 100 people in Mozambique and Malawi after devastating the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte and making landfall on mainland Africa.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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The Southern Bridge that connects the nether end of tony Palm Beach Island to the mainland city of West Palm Beach was once a calm overpass where people strolled alongside Bentleys over the Intracoastal Waterway.—
Beth Landman,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Read Next National Missing woman’s body found on hiking trail 3 years ago.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacramento Bee,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Every stair-climber, treadmill, and mat is occupied by a glistening body, each person sweating and trying to catch their breath.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near main
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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