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.
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Recent Examples of principal
Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Plymouth South principal Patty Fry voiced concern over the current power rankings system’s reliance on margin of victory.
—Matt Feld, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Julia Shapero, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
Williams herself already has a minority stake in Los Angeles women’s soccer team Angel City, whose principal owner is her husband, Alexis Ohanian.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
Crystal, who is the principal of Liberty Elementary, immediately taunts Ava, showing off her prime time slot for pleading her case for funding in front of the school board.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Plymouth South principal Patty Fry voiced concern over the current power rankings system’s reliance on margin of victory.
—Matt Feld, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
As a result, Cassandra Huggins, the principal deputy assistant director of Supervision Policy and Operations, sent out an email to supervision staff Monday.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
Williams herself already has a minority stake in Los Angeles women’s soccer team Angel City, whose principal owner is her husband, Alexis Ohanian.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for principal
Noun
-
The stars came out to shine for the Trojans as Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins each scored 22 points in the victory.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
-
For the men and women who dress the stars, this red carpet catwalk has been an exhausting sprint.—
Alison Edmond,
The Hollywood Reporter,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The contemporary digs took two years to rebuild and transform into a tropical oasis that includes main and guest residences, each with a swimming pool of its own.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Anantara Bo Phut in Samui served as our main exterior entrance and reception area, Anantara Mai Khao in Phuket as the spa, and Rosewood Phuket as the dinner restaurant.—
Jim Halterman,
IndieWire,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Also last week: Newsom’s chief disaster officer asked the Trump administration to test soil for toxic chemicals in areas burned by the Eaton and Palisades fires.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Dana Levenson was the city’s chief financial officer from 2004 to 2007.—
Dana Levenson,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The interface consists of selecting a primary tool and then a contextual menu at the bottom of the screen with the options for that tool.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
1 Mar. 2025
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The money could give him a significant edge with just four months to go until the primary election.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The biographical circumstances and the reddish tinge of the foremost prisoner’s hair have led commentators to interpret the image metaphorically, even solipsistically––the prisoner becomes a cipher for van Gogh, physically and psychologically incarcerated.—
Sarah C. Schaefer,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
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Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Christian Oberbeck,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Boston committed 19 turnovers and looked a step slow in the paint (where Detroit owned a commanding 62-20 scoring edge) and in transition (29-8).—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Feb. 2025
-
And now, with Zero Day, Bassett delivers yet another commanding performance—one that’s both timely and powerful.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Here’s how Stein went from making muffin mixes in her New York apartment’s kitchen to building one of the country’s predominant granola brands.—
Ryan Johnston,Zachary Green,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The predominant tone in the conspiracy films of the 1970s is futility.—
Chris Vognar,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Admiral Stavridis was the supreme allied commander from 2009 to 2013.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Last October, one of Khamenei’s senior advisers asserted that if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear sites, the supreme leader might reconsider his earlier decrees outlawing the development and use of weapons of mass destruction.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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