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
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2025
The trailer also introduces Steve Buscemi as the school’s new principal, Barry Dort, and plenty of creepy dolls.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Meet Violet Bidwill, the NFL’s first female owner of the Cardinals
Chicago Bears matriarch Virginia Halas McCaskey, who died in February, was not the first woman to become principal owner of an NFL team.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for principal
Noun
Then there’s Gwendoline Christie’s school principal Larissa Weems, who was killed by Christina Ricci’s Laurel Gates.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2025
The trailer also introduces Steve Buscemi as the school’s new principal, Barry Dort, and plenty of creepy dolls.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Techniques like principal component analysis (PCA) and feature selection help reduce data to its most important dimensions.
—Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Meet Violet Bidwill, the NFL’s first female owner of the Cardinals
Chicago Bears matriarch Virginia Halas McCaskey, who died in February, was not the first woman to become principal owner of an NFL team.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 19 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
-
In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted just after Trump's inauguration, some 55% of respondents said either inflation or the broader economy should be Trump's main focus in his first 100 days in office, which run through April 30.—
Jason Lange,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
One study showed that consuming moderate- and high-GI fruits after main meals can improve blood insulin and insulin function.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Faced with potential federal spending cuts that threaten health coverage and falling childhood vaccination rates, Monica Soni, the chief medical officer of Covered California, has a lot on her plate — and on her mind.—
Bernard J. Wolfson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Tom Buckingham, chief growth officer at Nassau Financial Group and retirement planner, told Newsweek that this is for a number of reasons.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 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
-
Williams pointed to rising production costs and declining attendee donations as primary reasons the Silver Room Block Party could not continue, highlighting a reality that all street festival organizers face right now.—
Pamela Maass,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Ryan Ferrier,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
On election day, early results gave Cárdenas a commanding lead over the PRI’s candidate, Carlos Salinas de Gortari.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
-
After the first leg in Lyon had ended 2-2 last week, United took a commanding lead in Thursday’s return fixture thanks to first-half goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The two main red grapes here are Syrah and Grenache, with Syrah the predominant variety in the north and Grenache holding first place in the south, where it is also blended with other grapes including Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Cinsault.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
18 Apr. 2025
-
For citizenship behavior, relationship quality was the predominant mediator.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The British royals briefly greeted onlookers after attending an Easter service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England, an important fixture in the 76-year-old monarch's calendar as Charles serves as supreme governor of the Church of England.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The Argentinian national was known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, when he was elected the Catholic Church's 266th supreme pontiff -- and the first ever from Latin America -- on March 13, 2013, replacing the retiring Pope Benedict XVI.—
Morgan Winsor,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Principal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principal. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share