Definitions

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.

Another trip in the works is to Spain, with potential events in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, a Spanish cardinal said last month.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

He was named head of the church in New York by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, who later made him cardinal.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

In turning the Trojans into perennial title contenders, Carroll set out to “put a fence” around the Southland, to keep all of its top prospects at home, in cardinal and gold.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

In a conciliatory gesture, he allowed a prominent conservative cardinal, Raymond Burke, to celebrate a traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in October.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

Monod and Jacob, working with Arthur Pardee, a microbial geneticist from America, discovered three cardinal principles that governed the regulation of genes.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Vocabulary lists containing cardinal

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Out of My Mind

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