cardinal

[kahr-dn-l] / ˈkɑr dn l /

ADJECTIVE

important, key

Synonyms

STRONGEST

overriding

STRONG

basic central chief essential first fundamental leading main primary prime principal ruling

WEAK

basal bottom-line constitutive foremost greatest highest indispensable overruling paramount pivotal preeminent vital

Antonyms

STRONG

additional auxiliary extra inessential inferior last least minor nonessential outside peripheral secondary subordinate trivial unimportant unnecessary

WEAK

insignificant negligible

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Colby reportedly gave the cardinal a dressing down.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

Jean-Paul Vesco, the Franco-Algerian cardinal of the Catholic Church who serves as the Archbishop of Algiers, wrote in a statement.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

So I asked the cardinal to thank the Holy Father for his confidence in me and to assure him that I would do the job with all my heart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

The cardinal sin of “The Last Days” is that it doesn’t choose a storyline.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

He tells me about the day the cardinal died, about finding the body on the back deck, about burying him in the mud nest.

From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven

Vocabulary lists containing cardinal

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Out of My Mind

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