as in cornerstone
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests
a sense of history is the keystone to the city's draw as a tourist destination
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 keystone
The New Yorker’s founding editor, Harold Ross, regarded The Talk of the Town as the keystone of each issue, and sent as much of it as possible through White’s typewriter.
—
Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
At the time it was considered the keystone in Oceanside’s downtown renaissance, part of an effort to bring more people and commercial activity to the area.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
The viewing rectangle can be scaled down and moved around to fit the available space, without needing to reposition the unit, and focus/keystone are automatically tweaked for easy placement.
—New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2025
Permitting reform and more investments in energy supply, keystones of the final plan, were also the central asks of Google and Microsoft.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for keystone
Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
At the time it was considered the keystone in Oceanside’s downtown renaissance, part of an effort to bring more people and commercial activity to the area.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
The viewing rectangle can be scaled down and moved around to fit the available space, without needing to reposition the unit, and focus/keystone are automatically tweaked for easy placement.
—New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2025
Permitting reform and more investments in energy supply, keystones of the final plan, were also the central asks of Google and Microsoft.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for keystone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keystone
Noun
-
The fire caused extensive damage throughout the church, which has long served as a cornerstone of the community, Jennings said.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
21 Oct. 2025
-
That philosophy is the cornerstone of Maddalena's programs, which prioritize clarity, presence, and energy.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Corps officials will evaluate each request on a case by case basis.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Each of the American automakers is expected to report double-digit declines in adjusted earnings per share but remain profitable on an adjusted basis, according to analyst estimates compiled by LSEG.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Hoping to attract steam engines and gunpowder manufacturers, Delaware’s leaders could scarcely have imagined that, a century later, the ‘Delaware Inc’ model would serve as the foundation for smartphones, search engines and electric cars.—
Jan Hammer,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The work even involved tunneling out a basement below the medieval foundations for HVAC and storage, with monitors on every wall to detect shifts in the stones during excavations.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, seawater intrudes like an advancing army toward thicker ice, which rests on bedrock that slopes inward toward the bowl-like center of the continent.—
Evan Howell,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, a bedrock safeguard, restricts the military’s involvement in domestic law enforcement.—
Jason M. Blazakis,
Mercury News,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keystone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keystone. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share