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

Relevance

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 The cardinal rule of relativity is that there’s a speed limit to the Universe, the speed of light, that nothing can break. —Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 14 Aug. 2025 Never Share Sensitive Workplace Data With AI Tools The cardinal rule is simple. —Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 It is heavily guarded because the cardinal rule of the place is that there is no violence. —Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025 King arrived at the event in a pair of Manolo Blahnik‘s Corintia 90mm pumps in a bright cardinal red hue, which were a flattering contrast to the cobalt blue carpet. —Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 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. first
  8. big
Adjective
  • The character collection leans into more alternate builds for main characters.
    — Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Use jig and pigs 18 to 25 feet deep along brush piles or main lake points with a gradual slope.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Last week, Reuters reported that Pulte’s own father and stepmother had declared two homes in two different states as their primary residence, prompting a town in Michigan to remove a tax exemption for their home there and charge the couple for back taxes.
    — Chris Prentice, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
  • But today, technology was not his primary concern.
    — Elie Ofek, Harvard Business Review, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Advertisement Lee believes a key factor is that Korean society has no predominant religion but a smattering of similarly sized faiths that maintain a balanced following without chafing against each other.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Should contempt become the predominant way that two partners communicate with one another, one or both will eventually reach a breaking point.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • Gibson, of course, had one of the most dominant seasons ever in 1968.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The International Style, also called Modern European Architecture Style, refers to architecture that emerged in Holland, France and Germany after World War I and became the dominant architectural style until the 1970s.
    — Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.
    — Anna Forsythe, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • But some of its foremost victims aren’t Israeli Jews.
    — Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • On Tuesday, McEntarfer said that late-responding firms were the principal reason for the negative revision that preceded her firing.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The bulk of your minimum payment goes toward interest, leaving only a small fraction to reduce your principal balance.
    — True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of principal
Adjective
  • The first pair, Wild Life (1440p) and Wild Life Extreme (4K), uses the Vulkan graphics API to measure GPU speeds.
    — Charles Jefferies, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The first hepatitis B vaccine was licensed in 1981, and the ACIP recommended a vaccine dose universally for all babies in 1991.
    — Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of first
Adjective
  • Housed in a tube that’s significantly bigger than most brow gels, the fatter, curved side of the spoolie brush applies the product and fluffs up brows, while the flat side arranges arches.
    — Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Save from isolated slip-ups, all addressed by and mended with the captain, there were no big issues.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of big

Phrases Containing cardinal

Browse Nearby Words

carded
cardinal
cardinal virtue
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Cardinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on cardinal

Nglish: Translation of cardinal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cardinal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Putting Adjectives in the Right Order

A Guide to Using Semicolons
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Color Words to Describe Autumn Leaves

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You
See More

Popular

See More

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Color Words to Describe Autumn Leaves
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
vector image of a face with thought expression
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Take a (break/brake) and (pore/pour) over this (c...
See All