as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ground zero
Sitting right in the heart of Ocean Drive just steps from the sand, its open-air pool and lively patio are ground zero for that nonstop energy the neighborhood is known for.
—
Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
During Denver’s summer of violence in the early 1990s, it was considered ground zero for gang conflict.
—Beverly Kingston, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
After an emergency extension and an intervention from the state’s Supreme Court, Dallas County — a stronghold for Democrats — became ground zero for a voting rights dispute with implications well beyond its borders.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
In a state known globally as ground zero for whiskey and bourbon, two Tennessee distilleries are resurrecting absinthe as a modern go-to spirit for curious palates and cocktail enthusiasts.
—David Cook, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
During Denver’s summer of violence in the early 1990s, it was considered ground zero for gang conflict.
—Beverly Kingston, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
After an emergency extension and an intervention from the state’s Supreme Court, Dallas County — a stronghold for Democrats — became ground zero for a voting rights dispute with implications well beyond its borders.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
In a state known globally as ground zero for whiskey and bourbon, two Tennessee distilleries are resurrecting absinthe as a modern go-to spirit for curious palates and cocktail enthusiasts.
—David Cook, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground zero
Noun
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There’s a large homeschooling population, and, about fifteen miles from downtown, a Catholic organization runs a property affectionately known as Catholic Familyland—a cross between a summer camp and a retreat center.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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Angelita Soriano, a spokesperson for the No Data Center group, asked Huddlestun to provide residents with an independent health impact study of the future site of the Amazon data center planned at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In Pakistan, she was greeted by President Mohammad Ayub Khan, laid a wreath at the tomb of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the nation’s founder, and attended a state dinner in Islamabad, the nation’s capital.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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To reduce energy demand, the capital has also reportedly implemented a rotating parking system for public car parks, and public sector workers' vehicles will be banned from parking every other day based on license plate numbers.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Relying on complimentary onboard entertainment alone can leave you stuck staring at a blank screen—but the $12 Flight Flap turns your phone into a dependable entertainment hub.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
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The Church of Our Lady of Muxima was built by Portuguese colonizers at the end of the 16th century as part of a fortress complex and became a hub in the slave trade.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Tullman’s new complex will, of course, hardly stand alone in a city that long has been a mecca for magic.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Las Vegas is a mecca for cuisines from around the world, including Mexican, but Cantina Contramar is arguably the most significant opening by a Mexican chef in the city.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Local fire officials said the focus right now is preparation, before any flames ever start.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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With Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceding the election to opposition leader Péter Magyar’s Tisza party, the focus of Hungarian news media is trying to gauge the size of the party’s future majority.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This V-neck camisole is our pick for a lacy, statement base layer with its endless styling potential and dainty, feminine finish.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
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Shohei Ohtani extended his streak of reaching base to 48 consecutive games with an intentional walk by Raley in the eighth.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Hydrogen atoms are the simplest nuclei, with a single proton orbited by an electron, so that’s typically what physicists have used for their experiments to measure the proton’s charge radius.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
14 Apr. 2026
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Our team of physicists studies whether an even better kind of clock could one day be built from the atomic nucleus.—
Andrei Derevianko,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s a shot at Ivar Stenberg, Gavin McKenna or another top prospect to join the young Hawks core.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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One of the core underappreciated aspects of board governance is transparency, especially after a COVID bribery scandal last year sent former board member Andrew Do to prison.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20zero. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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