cardinal

adjective

Definition of cardinalnext
as in main
coming before all others in importance the cardinal rule of medicine: do no harm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 cardinal Each academic school hosts their own ceremony, with students attending various departments — plus deans and senior leadership — all clad in their cardinal and gold regalia, marching behind their banners across the campus. — Staff Report, Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026 Breaking my cardinal rule for noir, Ellroy tries to get by on plot alone. — Carolyn Kellogg, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Around that time, the Count-Duke is believed to have commissioned the artist to paint both him and Italian cardinal Francesco Barberini—a nephew of Pope Urban VIII— to commemorate the latter’s diplomatic mission to the Spanish court. — Theo Belci, Artforum, 7 July 2026 Drop Shots 😱 A player in the girls’ singles was disqualified from her match after committing a cardinal Wimbledon sin. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cardinal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal
  1. main
  2. primary
  3. predominant
  4. dominant
  5. foremost
  6. principal
  7. big
  8. first
Adjective
  • Saudi Arabia kept its main international airport closed and moved Riyadh schools online on Sunday after a deadly strike by Yemen’s Houthi rebels the day before.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Our main focus is on J & J’s Innovative Medicine pharma segment.
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Steve Sarkisian will not budge on this issue One of the primary reasons Manning chose to attend Texas was Sarkisian.
    — Mac Engel October 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Flooding rains will be a primary concern, with several showers from Rachel having already reached the United States shoreline as of 2 pm Saturday.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • There are two predominant rumors about how a wild herd ended up in the Inland Empire, Spasojevic said.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The predominant suites—all of which have generous outdoor space—are spread across four buildings whose Indonesian names translate to mountain, hill, plateau and valley.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • Replicants are also looking for their identity as the dominant species, and if God made humans in his image as humans did for Replicants — well, some Replicants might want to find out how to become gods.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Then Oklahoma State finished their upset bid in week two behind a dominant offensive performance.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • Considered the foremost institution for Asian art in the United States, this additional space will give the museum more room to display roughly 4,000 historic and contemporary works from its more than 21,000-piece collection of Asian artists.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Seeing the internet’s foremost disciple of glow meet the internet’s foremost purveyor of good lighting, though, feels quite satisfying—who else needs another excuse to update that Sephora cart?
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • The Irish production and distribution shingle, which specializes in horror and adjacent genre movies, is handling worldwide sales on the film, which recently wrapped principal photography.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Dodd, a principal architect of the legislation bearing his name, offers similar points.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of principal
Adjective
  • Isaias was expected to miss the oil industry's biggest hubs along the Gulf Coast, but fuel prices could rise if power outages shut down refineries for processing crude, industry experts said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Over the last two years, no Spanish company has helped drive Spanish content onto the world stage more than Movistar Plus, the biggest Spanish pay TV/SVOD operator.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of big
Adjective
  • The attack is also not the first time cyber incidents have disrupted food systems.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Its holding group Agache in 2024 acquired a majority stake in Paris FC, which subsequently vaulted back into France’s first division after almost half a century in the second tier.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of first

Phrases Containing cardinal

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carded
cardinal
cardinal virtue
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Cite this Entry

“Cardinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cardinal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cardinal

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