Where there is no common power, there is no law, where no law, no injustice. Force, and fraud, are in war the cardinal virtues.
Source: tatoeba (907679)
Cardinal
/ˈkɑɹdɪnəl/
Synonyms for "cardinal" (271 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (55)
Noun(15 words)
redbirdbellarminebellarminocardincardinal grosbeakcardinal numbercardinalis cardinaliscarminechurch dignitaryclericalclviclxvcountcountingcounting lesson
abunaalgebraic numberalgorismicalgorithmicaliquotall-absorbingantipopearcharchbishoparchdeaconarchpriestarithmeticalbannerbishopbishop coadjutorbrickycanoncapecapitalcardinal bishop
Show 19 more words
cardinal deaconcardinal numbercardinal priestcarminecarnationcarneliancentralcerisechampionchaplaincherrycherry-coloredcherry-redchiefcoadjutorcolorcomplex numberconstitutivecontrolling
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (81)
Noun(8 words)
counting numbercounting-numberdirectionalecclesiasticalecclesiastical officialessentialfundamentalkey
crimsoncrowningcuratedamaskdeandecimaldefective numberdifferentialdigitaldiocesandominantecclesiarchessentialeveneven numberexarchexponentialferruginousfieryfigural
Show 50 more words
figuratefigurativefinitefinite numberfire-redfirstflame-coloredflame-redflamingfocalforemostfractionfractionalfundamentalgaussian integerglowinggrand penitentiarygreatgulesheadheadmosthegemonichierarchhigh priesthighestholy fatherhotimaginaryimaginary numberimpairimportantimpossibleincarminedindispensableinfiniteinfinityinflamedinfraredintegerintegraliron-redirrationalirrational numberkeylake-coloredlakylateritiousleadinglobster-redlogarithmic
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (135)
logometricluridmagisterialmagpiemainmaroonmastermaterialmetropolitanmixed numbernecessaryneedfulnegativenumeralnumerarynumerativenumericoddordinaloverriding
Show 95 more words
overrulingpairpapaparamountpatriarchpenitentiarypigmentpivotalpolygonal numberpontiffpopeport-winepositivepossibleprebendarypredominantpreeminentprelatepremierpreponderantprevailingprimalprimaryprimateprimeprime numberprincipalpucepure imaginaryradicalrankingrationalrational numberrealreal numberreciprocalrectangular numberrectorredred-dyedred-lookingreddenedreddishreddish-amberreddish-brownround numberrubicundrubiginousrubricrubricoserubyruby-coloredruby-redruddiedruddyrufescentrufousrulingrural deanrustrust-redrustyscarletserial numbersovereignspecialstammelstarstellarstrategicsubdeansubmultiplesuffragansupereminentsupremesurdtile-redtitiantitian-redtopflighttopmosttranscendentaltranscendental numbertransfinite numberunderlyinguppermostvermilionvicarvinaceousvitalwarmwhole numberwinewine-coloredwine-red
Noun(16 words)
mainmazarinmillionnorthern cardinalnumeral typenumericalnumerosityprincipalquantitativereligious leaderrichmondena cardinalissizethousandthousand peoplethree hundredxcvi
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: redbird, abuna, algebraic number, algorismic, algorithmic.
- Sentence evidence is available for cardinal, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "cardinal".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "cardinal"
Keep "cardinal" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "cardinal" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "cardinal", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "cardinal" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
Collocations
8 entriescardinal directionscardinal numberscardinal principlecardinal rulecardinal sincardinal virtuesnorthern cardinalredbird
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
391 entries01101001000101105111101151212012513130135
Showing 16 of 391 words.
Sample sentences
32 total sentences available.
The cardinal directions are: north, south, east, and west.
Source: tatoeba (1215778)
There are four cardinal points: East, south, west and north.
Source: tatoeba (2225514)
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected pope.
Source: tatoeba (2304068)
Showing 4 of 32 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "cardinal"?
Closest matches include redbird, abuna, algebraic number, algorismic, algorithmic.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "cardinal"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.