as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
primeval forests slowly disappearing as the climate changed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primeval
Lemaître referred to the Big Bang as a primeval atom.
—
Quanta Magazine, 24 July 2025
As for the chthonic powers who might intrude upon us, the worst must be the Titans, primeval offspring of Gaia and Uranus, Earth and Sky.
—Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Our own moon shows evidence of primeval tidal heating too.
—Robin Andrews, Wired News, 15 June 2025
But in this primeval stage, nearly all of the potential Democratic candidates are discussing problems that have bedeviled their party for years: how to win back working-class voters, how aggressively to oppose President Trump and how to reach voters beyond the traditional news media.
—Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for primeval
Quanta Magazine, 24 July 2025
As for the chthonic powers who might intrude upon us, the worst must be the Titans, primeval offspring of Gaia and Uranus, Earth and Sky.
—Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Our own moon shows evidence of primeval tidal heating too.
—Robin Andrews, Wired News, 15 June 2025
But in this primeval stage, nearly all of the potential Democratic candidates are discussing problems that have bedeviled their party for years: how to win back working-class voters, how aggressively to oppose President Trump and how to reach voters beyond the traditional news media.
—Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for primeval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primeval
Adjective
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The norm is for ancient dugouts found in southern Florida to be linked to ancestors of the Calusa, the Seminole or the Miccosukee, according to the Florida Division of Historical Resources.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
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Scientists can analyze these ancient samples to infer ocean temperature, sea ice cover or levels of atmospheric gases at different moments across thousands of years.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Due to an accidental feature of this primitive technology, the color of television made in the middle nineteen sixties is essentially public, rather than private.—
Scott Stossel,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
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Campsites are a step above primitive, with nearby water, pit toilets, picnic tables and food lock-up boxes provided.—
Don Sproul,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This is where Birmingham’s industrial heritage meets the primal spectacle of live fire cooking.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Ali—or Richard Durham channeling Ali—would write just months after the fight that some part of him had always rebelled against the primal allure of his sport.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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On either side of the cool, free-flowing river, hollows flanking the water conceal outtakes from another time—from prehistoric sites dating back thousands of years to untamed wilderness and waterfalls left wholly untouched.—
Katie Strasberg Rousso,
Southern Living,
19 Sep. 2025
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Much of this prehistoric area is buried underwater today, but not all of it.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The process of resurrection After growing the primordial germ cells, the Colossal scientists plan to edit these with dodo-specific genes.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
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At the same time, Colossal is using a similar culture to grow the primordial germ cells of the Nicobar pigeon, which is more closely related to the dodo.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The group market capitalization was $156 billion early Friday, as against $235 billion on the eve of Hindenburg’s report in January 2023.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
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King and Conqueror’s characters also suffer from an acute case of early 21st-century-itis.—
Will Collins,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primeval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primeval. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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