The ship creaked and groaned, the mighty timbers bulged and bent under the heavy blows, the water broke over the decks, snapping the mainmast like a reed.
Source: tatoeba (7741125)
Mainmast
/ˈmeɪn.mæst/
Synonyms for "mainmast" (5 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: central mast, mast, primary mast, principal mast, spar.
- Sentence evidence is available for mainmast, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse.
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 "mainmast".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "mainmast"
Keep "mainmast" 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 "mainmast" 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 "mainmast", 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 "mainmast" 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
1 entriesCollocations
5 entriesmainmast heightmainmast riggingmainmast shroudsmainmast sparmainmast stay
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
22 translations across 21 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- грот-мачта noun (mainmast)
Catalan
1 entries- pal major noun (mainmast)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 主桅 noun (mainmast)
Danish
1 entries- stormast noun (mainmast)
Dutch
1 entries- grote mast noun (mainmast)
Esperanto
1 entries- ĉefmasto noun (mainmast)
Finnish
1 entries- isomasto noun (mainmast)
French
1 entries- grand mât noun (mainmast)
German
1 entries- Großmast noun (mainmast)
Hungarian
1 entries- főárbóc noun (mainmast)
Icelandic
1 entries- stórsigla noun (mainmast)
Italian
1 entries- albero maestro noun (mainmast)
Japanese
1 entries- メインマスト noun (mainmast)
Māori
1 entries- turuturu matua noun (mainmast)
Norman
1 entries- grand mât noun (mainmast)
Polish
1 entries- grotmaszt noun (mainmast)
Portuguese
2 entries- grande noun (mainmast)
- mastro grande noun (mainmast)
Russian
1 entries- грот-ма́чта noun (mainmast)
Spanish
1 entries- palo mayor noun (mainmast)
Swedish
1 entries- stormast noun (mainmast)
Welsh
1 entries- hwylbren mawr noun (mainmast)
Sample sentences
6 total sentences available.
O, the most piteous cry of the poor souls! sometimes to see ’em, and not to see ’em; now the ship boring the moon with her main-mast, and anon swallowed with yest and froth, as you’ld thrust a cork into a hogshead.
Source: wiktionary
Then turning to his first Minister, who waited behind him with a white Staff near as tall as the Main-mast of the Royal Soveraign, he observed how contemptible a thing was human Grandeur, which could be mimicked by such diminutive Insects as I […]
Source: wiktionary
When we were in the latitude of Martinico, and near making the land, one morning we had a brisk gale of wind, and, carrying too much sail, the main-mast went over the side.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "mainmast"?
Closest matches include central mast, mast, primary mast, principal mast, spar.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "mainmast"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.