The programming paradigm primarily associated with the use of objects is object-oriented programming (OOP). OOP is centered around the concept of "objects," which encapsulate data and behaviors. This paradigm allows for modeling real-world entities and promotes reusability through inheritance and polymorphism, enhancing software design and maintainability. OOP languages, such as Java, C++, and Python, utilize classes to define object templates. By structuring programs around objects, developers can create modular, scalable applications that are easier to debug and extend, making OOP a popular choice in contemporary software development.