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
The verdicts against Meta come at a pivotal moment for the tech industry as public officials test the limits of long-standing legal protections that have shielded companies from liability.
—
Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
The program was pivotal in realizing the complex geometry of several of Gehry’s most famous projects, including the Guggenheim Bilbao (1997) and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (2003).
—Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
The appointment of Kelliher comes at a pivotal time for the organization.
—Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
But the appearance with wife, Hillary, is credited as being pivotal for Clinton winning the 1992 election.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
The program was pivotal in realizing the complex geometry of several of Gehry’s most famous projects, including the Guggenheim Bilbao (1997) and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (2003).
—Julian Rose, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
The appointment of Kelliher comes at a pivotal time for the organization.
—Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
But the appearance with wife, Hillary, is credited as being pivotal for Clinton winning the 1992 election.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
-
Irrigation is crucial in an area that's primarily dry land agriculture.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Called the trans-lunar injection burn (TLI), the crucial maneuver is scheduled to take place roughly 24 hours into the mission.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Isaiah Stewart, a key reserve, missed the game with a left calf strain.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
When not giddily tearing apart the rom-com – a key conversation between Charlie and Emma happens in the trope-iest of cinematic eateries, a diner – Borgli asks really major thematic questions with his controversial subject matter.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage are approaching a critical deadline that could have long-lasting financial consequences.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
For Iranian athletes who play in domestic-league games that aren’t broadcast internationally, the World Cup serves as a critical launchpad to impress international scouts.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
An Iranian military official was quoted recently by the Islamic Republic's state-run media as saying another strait vital to world oil supplies could be targeted next.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The vital waterway usually handles a fifth of the world’s oil shipments and nearly a third of the world’s fertilizer trade.—
Farnoush Amiri,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
