PRIMAL Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

primal

adjective

ˈprī-məl

Definition of primal

as in main

coming before all others in importance the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ancient

relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics

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 primal For me, slasher films at their very essence are simple and primal. — William Earl, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 Cynically or not, Chin and Vasarhelyi understand that these primal thrills are enough to distract us from the frustrating and sorrowful truth at the center of the story. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026 Animals could offer liberatory models to throw off bourgeois conventions, returning Surrealists to primal ways of being. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Every single song was a pile driver to the head, feeding that primal pleasure of a meaty guitar riff over a heavy drum beat and Johnson’s gritty falsetto. — Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for primal

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

This chapter is accompanied by somewhat twee images of an owl doll, a bottle of designer perfume, a high heel, and a golden microphone positioned against various ancient Greek ruins, including the Parthenon and the Monument of the Eponymous Heroes.

— Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Its wonders include countryside wineries, ancient archaeological sites and unforgettable beaches.

— Rick Steves, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of ancient

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

The work required felling primeval trees measuring six feet in diameter and digging a deep trench through the marsh to accommodate boat traffic.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
Yeti takes place deep in the Alps, where an avalanche has unleashed something primeval from the glacial ice.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026

Definition of primeval

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

This would have been a primordial black hole (PBH), a hypothesized object formed in the universe’s earliest moments.

— Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
So evolving from the ocean to the land, just like any primordial creature would.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of primordial

Browse Nearby Words

prima facie

primal

primarily

See all Nearby Words

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

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Synonyms of primal

adjective

Example Sentences

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