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
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Recent Examples of key
Tashan Reed, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
And Woods had strong coverage on two key plays, a third-down play at the end of the second quarter and a two-point conversion on the third, that resulted in incompletions.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 17 Aug. 2025
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025
Heritage Farmhouse Entryway Wall Shelf If your entryway is littered with coats, keys, and dog leashes with no home base, Pottery Barn’s Heritage Farmhouse Wall Shelf is an obvious purchase—especially at 40% off.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Infield defense has been a strength, with 2B Marcus Semien and SS Corey Seager keying a 81.3 grounder multiplier.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Adjective
The starting offense looked much better, but the starting defense still gave some cause for concern despite several key 49ers contributors being sidelined.
—Tashan Reed, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
And Woods had strong coverage on two key plays, a third-down play at the end of the second quarter and a two-point conversion on the third, that resulted in incompletions.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
Lacan once again came in clutch, nailing a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the end-of-quarter buzzer to push Connecticut back to a double-digit lead.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025
Heritage Farmhouse Entryway Wall Shelf If your entryway is littered with coats, keys, and dog leashes with no home base, Pottery Barn’s Heritage Farmhouse Wall Shelf is an obvious purchase—especially at 40% off.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
Over the past six months, that has keyed his explosive growth by 50 percent, amassing 3.3 million TikTok followers with only seven songs officially released.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Infield defense has been a strength, with 2B Marcus Semien and SS Corey Seager keying a 81.3 grounder multiplier.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
Adjective
-
His main ride is a blue 2005 TJ with a four-inch lift and some other add-ons.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
-
The three main causes of hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Research from the Max Planck Society reveals a crucial difference between empathy and compassion.—
Sahar Andrade,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
This is a crucial time in terms of preparing for fantasy football domination.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Sip Coffee House in Highland, Indiana, within the heart of the nearly purple 1st Congressional District, is the kind of place where eavesdroppers aren't afraid to join a conversation at the next table about politics.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Nourished By Time going beyond just music, envisioning the project as a multimedia gateway leading into photography, video, and performance art.—
Elise Brisco,
Rolling Stone,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Curiosity preserves your relationship, and is a gateway to clean fuel. 4.—
Jennifer Breheny Wallace,
CNBC,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
What's included Digital plans Digital + Print Daily digital access Android and IOS apps Subscriber-exclusive content Digital subscription to share The eNewspaper — a digital replica of the print newspaper.—
cincinnati.com,
cincinnati.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
For years, Detroit’s east side lacked adequate access to year-round recreation facilities.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Kuipers offers an innovative framework for thinking about the different ways in which these states reconcile the tension between state building and nation building by blending discretion, meritocracy, and affirmative action in the recruitment of personnel.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Leaders practice reconciling an AI recommendation with their own judgment, debating an ethical trade-off with no easy answer, or realigning a group after trust slips.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
France is, however, the primary importer of Mauritian nutmeg today.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Aug. 2025
-
The 449-foot blast, his second longest of the year, moved Goodman within three homers of matching the club record by a primary catcher (Wilin Rosario’s 28 in 2012).—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to garnering widespread critical acclaim, the performance immediately soared across social media, generating tens of millions of views overnight.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
23 Aug. 2025
-
These countries act as more than just mere final destinations for shark meat consumption, operating as critical hubs that receive products from around the world, process them, and send them onward to other markets.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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