as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pivotal
Thursday’s data comes at a pivotal time for Fed policymakers, who have signaled patience on rate cuts amid lingering concerns about sticky inflation.
—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Hundreds of supporters gathered on Lemon Hill ahead of a pivotal 2026 Men's World Cup match against the Ivory Coast.
—
Ross Dimattei,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
ChatGPT is proving to be a pivotal tool, helping young entrepreneurs overcome the initial hurdle of launching a venture.
—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in reducing the risk of wildfires during these hazardous conditions.
—
Ca Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Hundreds of supporters gathered on Lemon Hill ahead of a pivotal 2026 Men's World Cup match against the Ivory Coast.
—
Ross Dimattei,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
ChatGPT is proving to be a pivotal tool, helping young entrepreneurs overcome the initial hurdle of launching a venture.
—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in reducing the risk of wildfires during these hazardous conditions.
—
Ca Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
-
The winner of tonight's crucial Australia-Paraguay match will move on to the round of 32.
-
Meanwhile, the country’s crucial oil industry needs billions of dollars of investment to get anywhere close to the halcyon days of the late 1990s when production was at its height.
Adjective
-
Rankings were also further broken down based on each key scoring components.
-
However, following a series of Miami Herald articles detailing flaws in the investigation, including police not following up with key eyewitnesses, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office reexamined the case and charged Pino with felony vessel homicide in October 2024.
Adjective
-
The unorthodox midterm convention comes as Democrats continue to poll stronger than Republicans ahead of November's critical elections.
-
Kennard could have provided a critical floor-spacing piece around Doncic, who thrives when surrounded by lob-catching centers, athletic wings and knockdown shooters.
Adjective
-
Brennan argues the records are vital to a potential vindictive-prosecution defense, citing more than 100 Trump statements attacking him and directives to pursue cases without legal basis.
-
There are fees imposed for the use of other vital shipping lanes, including the Suez and Panama Canals, where fees can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for the largest cargo vessels.
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
