1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
maintains that Sir Isaac Newton remains the key figure in physical science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
first—and this is key—I wasn't even there that evening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in gateway
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal
a good education is the key to success
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in access
the means or right of entering or participating in
he had found the key to her heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to reconcile
to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences
her response was perfectly keyed to the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 key
Sj Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
As much as things have changed for Barker, many key things have stayed the same.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Travelers looking for upscale desert stays can book ULUM Moab, a Michelin two-key luxury glamping resort.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
Livingston also keyed in on future All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III in 2018, as former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis recalled.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for key
Adjective
Jon Devine, senior economist at Cotton Incorporated, keeps key stakeholders in the textile and investment communities informed via timely market analyses of commodity economics and factors influencing their stability.
—Sj Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
As much as things have changed for Barker, many key things have stayed the same.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026
Noun
Travelers looking for an upscale desert stay can also book ULUM Moab, a Michelin two-key luxury glamping resort.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Travelers looking for upscale desert stays can book ULUM Moab, a Michelin two-key luxury glamping resort.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
Verb
WhatsApp, Signal, and Apple iMessages all offer E2EE, which places the encryption keys for the messages only on the sender and recipient devices.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
Livingston also keyed in on future All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III in 2018, as former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis recalled.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
Adjective
-
Plenty of helpful signs are posted throughout, and main paths traverse the park.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
This intersection between kitchens and spirits spills over from main courses into desserts too.—
Carinne Geil Botta,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
That assessment didn’t mention Taiwan directly, but, in relation to Iran, said both sides had agreed that the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil and natural gas, must remain open.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
The subpoenas were crucial in getting the names of children and their families so the Justice Department could interview them.—
Kimberlee Kruesi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
With one out, Adames set the table by flipping a single into right field, then Chapman followed up with an opposite-field single of his own.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
If Freeling wins the left tackle job out of training camp, all options should be on the table.—
Mike Kaye
Updated May 14,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The war in Iran has failed to slow down container traffic at the Port of Los Angeles, with the California gateway handling its largest total cargo volumes of 2026.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
Albuquerque, home to the state’s largest airport, is a gateway.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer the contraceptive injection would help expand access to birth control across New York.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Her assignment was to help the Gaza Health Ministry restore access to health care in the north, where Israeli attacks had flattened nearly every building in sight.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Armenia and Turkey agreed in late 2021 to work toward improving the relationship and appointed special envoys to discuss ways to reconcile and open the border.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
-
The combination of the AI boom and the energy crisis poses a unique challenge for governments on how to reconcile an increasingly fractured economy.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Daniella Segura Click the link below for the USA TODAY Network's California June primary voter guide — registration deadline, ballot drop boxes, early voting, and how to track your ballot through Election Day.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, about a kilometre away, workers began clearing debris from the old site of the primary-care center, making room for a permanent replacement.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
In Canada, those minerals sit in the same rock formations where miners already dig for copper, nickel, and diamonds, or explore for critical green transition metals like lithium and cobalt.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
-
Global energy demand is projected to rise more than 50% by 2040, driven by economic growth in Asia and power-hungry AI infrastructure — and LNG, which is a cleaner fuel than coal or oil, is seen as a critical source to help meet that demand.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
