as in main
coming before all others in importance
the cardinal rule of medicine: do no harm
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Recent Examples of cardinal
According to The Knot, one of the cardinal rules of being a good wedding guest is to avoid actions that draw focus away from the couple.
—
Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Even the city’s fire chief, Kristin Crowley, has come under scrutiny, breaking one of the cardinal rules in this country—that firefighters can never be criticized during a disaster.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025
But never break the cardinal rule: Don’t break the bank.
—Virginia Van Zanten, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2025
The buyei, the spiritual leader, shakes maracas and leads the group members to face each cardinal direction, making their presence known to the ancestors.
—Seth Berry, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cardinal
Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Even the city’s fire chief, Kristin Crowley, has come under scrutiny, breaking one of the cardinal rules in this country—that firefighters can never be criticized during a disaster.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025
But never break the cardinal rule: Don’t break the bank.
—Virginia Van Zanten, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2025
The buyei, the spiritual leader, shakes maracas and leads the group members to face each cardinal direction, making their presence known to the ancestors.
—Seth Berry, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cardinal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cardinal
Adjective
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The group was dealt another blow with the fall of the Assad family's five-decade rule in Syria in early December, which blocked a main route for the flow of weapons and money from Iran.—
BASSEM MROUE,
arkansasonline.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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What’s different this time is how Wilds‘ main antagonist, the White Wraith, behaves.—
Josh Broadwell,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The money could give him a significant edge with just four months to go until the primary election.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
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The interface consists of selecting a primary tool and then a contextual menu at the bottom of the screen with the options for that tool.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Here’s how Stein went from making muffin mixes in her New York apartment’s kitchen to building one of the country’s predominant granola brands.—
Ryan Johnston,Zachary Green,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025
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The predominant tone in the conspiracy films of the 1970s is futility.—
Chris Vognar,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This spring, Avila touched 98 mph in a game and Sisk was dominant with Triple-A Omaha.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2025
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One of the most dominant forces in the chip industry is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), which manufactures the chips that power phones and laptops and are central to the output of key American AI players like NVIDIA.—
Andrew R. Chow,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The biographical circumstances and the reddish tinge of the foremost prisoner’s hair have led commentators to interpret the image metaphorically, even solipsistically––the prisoner becomes a cipher for van Gogh, physically and psychologically incarcerated.—
Sarah C. Schaefer,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
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Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Christian Oberbeck,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As principal payments kick in, the yearly amount will spike to $75 million beginning in 2045 and $137 million beginning in 2050, with the bonds paid off in 2055.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
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According to The New York Times, citing former colleagues, Caine was also an associate director for military affairs at the CIA from 2021 to 2024, serving as the principal liaison to the Pentagon and working with the military on several highly classified programs and operations.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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On the other hand, Creed is a seasoned campaigner in the Xfinity Series but is still chasing his first win.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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Now Tennessee has staked a claim to the first No. 1 seed in program history with a stirring comeback, charging back from a nine-point deficit in the final 10 minutes.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That's because a big tax break that could save you money faces an uncertain and confusing future in the Trump administration.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
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The campaign was dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy and pressure to curb migration — something that caused friction after Merz pushed hard in recent weeks for a tougher approach.—
Geir Moulson,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to cardinal
Cite this Entry
“Cardinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cardinal. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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