as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 ground zero
Academics, educators and critics alike refer to Oklahoma as ground zero for pushing education to the right.
—
Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
This time, Macy gets personal, using her deeply red home town of Urbana, Ohio, as a ground zero for understanding right-wing radicalization.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
Sracic spent years as a political science professor at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, ground zero for this transformation.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The downtown area, which was ground zero for civil unrest in 2020, has been revitalized by businesses that reopened after the pandemic, and foot traffic has returned.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
This time, Macy gets personal, using her deeply red home town of Urbana, Ohio, as a ground zero for understanding right-wing radicalization.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
Sracic spent years as a political science professor at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, ground zero for this transformation.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The downtown area, which was ground zero for civil unrest in 2020, has been revitalized by businesses that reopened after the pandemic, and foot traffic has returned.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground zero
Noun
-
The source of the flare is an active galactic nucleus, or AGN — a bright, compact region at the center of a galaxy — and it’s powered by a supermassive black hole that is actively feeding on material.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Global capability centers have evolved far beyond tech support, but their growth presents challenges for multinationals and Indian cities alike.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Criticism of India As the leader of the US’ largest city and financial capital, any mayor of New York is given an outsized role on the world stage.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The next morning, Burgher parents—oblivious to the fighting that had broken out in the capital—had lined the walkways and cheered as their children filed into schools with pencils and notebooks and tense faces, some bravely managing a smile, others rigid with fear.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Food hubs can increase local food access by aggregating food products from small to mid-sized farms and distributing them to underserved communities, schools, hospitals and retail stores.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The flight originated in Alexandria, Louisiana, home to the largest deportation hub in the United States, then made a stop in Atlanta, and continued south to Tapachula, according to ICE Flight Monitor, which tracks ICE flight data on behalf of Human Rights First, an advocacy group.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Gilbert’s real estate company developed the complex at the former Hudson’s, a shopping mecca for generations that closed in 1983.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Jackson Hole, Wyoming A rugged and untamed spirit defines Jackson Hole, a resort that has long earned its reputation as a mecca for expert skiers.—
Charles Curkin,
Vogue,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The main focus of the episode, of course, is following up on the Ken Tucker lead from Steven Droyco.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The Body Book for Older Girls, food, nutrition, exercise, and weight are a major focus from the very first page.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Earlier in the year, Chuck Schumer, the Minority Leader, had rallied enough votes to keep the government open and faced a furious backlash from the Democratic base; capitulating again would have been politically intolerable.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Players face off against notorious villains, solve puzzles and navigate through iconic locations brought to life from the live-action series, including the Marine base, Alvida’s hideout, Arlong Park and Buggy’s tent.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Filippenko did not participate in the new research, but his work has established a strong foundation for active galactic nuclei physics.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Its nucleus is also far bigger than other notable comets, while its arrival time was fine-tuned to bring it within tens of millions of kilometers from Mars, Venus and Jupiter and be unobservable from Earth at perihelion, along with other unexpected properties.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The victories are seen by many analysts and political figures as a signal that Democrats have regained momentum after losses in the 2024 election cycle—while some Republican voices warn of growing disconnection from core voters.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The conflict could also arise over other core values, such as how to raise kids or what activities to prioritize in the relationship.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20zero. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share