1
as in blooms
a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement
in the prime of her life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in best
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
chose the prime of the litter of pups
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 primes
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Repeated over-explaning primes you to experience your own thoughts as potentially problematic, requiring constant disclaimers rather than confident expression.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Hernández, Pedroia, Utley and Wright were among the sport’s very best during their primes, though those tended to end rather abruptly.
—The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
At least one large contractor is interpreting the order as applying to not only defense primes, but also suppliers and defense technology companies like Anduril and Palantir Technologies.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
As narrator Fennel Tycho explains how the heist went south, Tanzer examines real versus fake, clones versus their primes, and synthselves versus humans.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
European primes are also increasingly competing with an emerging class of defense tech startups in the region.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025
The savvy primes used to buy startups.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Civilian operators can use them for trade and transport, while defense primes adapt them with sensors, weapons, and communications for military missions.
—Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Their primes briefly overlapped, if only for a couple of years while James was transitioning out of his.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Repeated over-explaning primes you to experience your own thoughts as potentially problematic, requiring constant disclaimers rather than confident expression.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Hernández, Pedroia, Utley and Wright were among the sport’s very best during their primes, though those tended to end rather abruptly.
—The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
At least one large contractor is interpreting the order as applying to not only defense primes, but also suppliers and defense technology companies like Anduril and Palantir Technologies.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
As narrator Fennel Tycho explains how the heist went south, Tanzer examines real versus fake, clones versus their primes, and synthselves versus humans.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
European primes are also increasingly competing with an emerging class of defense tech startups in the region.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2025
The savvy primes used to buy startups.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Civilian operators can use them for trade and transport, while defense primes adapt them with sensors, weapons, and communications for military missions.
—Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primes
Noun
-
With Neroli & Basil in particular, the name reveals the bulk of the scent profile, though bergamot, tuberose, and eucalyptus add further complexity by combining fresh fruits, blooms, and herbs.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The vivid hues of wildflowers like mariposa lilies, desert five-spot, and lilac sunbonnets transform Death Valley starting in mid-February, although blooms can last well into the summer months in the park’s higher, cooler elevations.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And if your fourth line is Horvat between Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart, with Bennett — the Conn Smythe Trophy winner last spring — as the 13th forward sprinkled in with some shifts, well, that’s a new definition of depth at best-on-best.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The two most notable team stats were points in the paint, where the Aztecs scored 52 points; and turnovers, where the visitors committed six while forcing 22, both season bests.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The birds can navigate complex terrain, squeeze through tight spaces, and fly in weather that often grounds small drones.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Such reductions could drop the rolling decade average of releases below what’s required to provide the Lower Basin and Mexico their shares, and could give Arizona and its neighbors grounds to sue.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The same can’t be said for Pidgeon, a waifish Michigan native who attended two prestigious drama schools back-to-back—Interlochen Arts Academy and Carnegie Mellon—and was cast in the Amazon Prime series The Wilds straight out of school.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Sales of the $6 tickets will be used to fund performances for students at Title I schools.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
30 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Much of it is guilt by association — on the grounds, if nothing else, that elites should have known better than to associate with such a man.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Presidents, billionaires, royalty, intelligence officials and cultural elites appear in records tied to Epstein’s world.—
Kaitlyn Buss,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everette, who with punter Brett Thorson and long snapper Beau Gardner are the former Bulldogs competing in Senior Bowl drills this week, is adjusting to life after Georgia football.—
Mike Griffith,
AJC.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Every college and pro coach drills the same message into their players’ heads, nothing good happens after midnight.—
Ryan Gaydos , Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Shop everything from skirts to shorts, leggings, short-sleeve tops, and even cargo pants for casual looks.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Below, browse through flattering wide-leg jeans, expensive-looking ballet flats, and delicious cashmere tops, just to name a few gems.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That includes Susan Brennan, a former director of the program and a cognitive scientist at Stony Brook University, who mentors applicants throughout the state of New York.—
Jonathan Wosen,
STAT,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Coach Rafael Arutyunyan has trained Olympic champion Nathan Chen and now mentors Ilia Malinin, the only skater to land a quad axel.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primes. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
