epochal

adjective

Definition of epochalnext
as in momentous

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 epochal The Cane Ridge Revival would become an epochal moment in American religious history, one of the most visible manifestations of what historians would later refer to as the Second Great Awakening. — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026 But the possibility of an epochal discovery that radically changes our understanding of the universe’s history and solves one of the greatest mysteries in modern astrophysics is too alluring to ignore. — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 4 June 2026 Its demographics have also undergone an epochal shift. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026 These are huge, epochal changes for older Americans that have happened in just the past 15 years. — Ken Stern, USA Today, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for epochal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epochal
  1. momentous
  2. earthshaking
  3. fateful
  4. life-and-death
  5. crucial
Adjective
  • The occasion was a momentous one for Yolanda, who turned 18 in May.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • To celebrate that momentous occasion, Bottoms donned a fuchsia pantsuit with a matching silk shirt underneath designed by Dedrick Thomas of Hideoki Bespoke in Georgia.
    — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of momentous
Adjective
  • This call, the last time the founders would address their company, was an earthshaking moment for a workplace whose leaders inspired so much loyalty that several employees shared matching tattoos with Olguin.
    — Reis Thebault, Washington Post, 19 July 2023
  • It also should be said that the $85 million value of the missing parts matches the price to procure one F-35A fighter—obviously an important sum, but not an earthshaking loss.
    — Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023
Definition of earthshaking
Adjective
  • On the fateful play, Moore appeared to turn his head, which is allowed.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • But last Christmas, the designer went out on an impulsive—and what would prove to be fateful—run through Paris along the Seine, the city’s famous central waterway.
    — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fateful
Adjective
  • Perhaps the most stark evidence of Robinson’s departure from his fellow South Siders is on the life-and-death issue of whether to retain the ShotSpotter gunshot-detection technology.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Suddenly, residents were getting life-and-death information from a source over which emergency officials had no control.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of life-and-death
Adjective
  • Even the golf cart service (crucial in a resort this big) is on point, with a seamless online ordering platform and a bounty of staff ready to ferry you around, even at peak times.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • This latest accomplishment adds to an already strong year for Skechers athletes, as OG Anunoby was crucial to the New York Knicks’ championship and made the game-winning shot to cap off a historic comeback in game 4 of the NBA Finals.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of crucial

Browse Nearby Words

epoch
epochal
epochs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Epochal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epochal. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of abandon

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All