as in essential
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Recent Examples of instrumental
Known in part for his success at the railroad museum, Smith might prove instrumental in a long-term project to combine the Center for Sacramento History and the Sacramento History Museum.
—
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026
The Wave will also need midfielders Kenza Dali and Kimmi Ascanio to continue creating chances in the final third, as both have been instrumental to the club’s success this season.
—Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Stanley Plotkin, 93, was instrumental in developing a number of vaccines over the course of his career.
—Diana Gitig, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2026
Marcia was particularly instrumental in the construction of the Death Star escape and the climactic Battle of Yavin.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026
The Wave will also need midfielders Kenza Dali and Kimmi Ascanio to continue creating chances in the final third, as both have been instrumental to the club’s success this season.
—Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Stanley Plotkin, 93, was instrumental in developing a number of vaccines over the course of his career.
—Diana Gitig, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2026
Marcia was particularly instrumental in the construction of the Death Star escape and the climactic Battle of Yavin.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrumental
Adjective
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Whether your plans include a day at the beach, sightseeing around a new city, or simply running errands, the right pair of pants can quickly become your go-to summer outfit essential.—
Kate Donovan,
Southern Living,
2 June 2026
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For instance, Nursing gig platforms have been found to pit essential workers against each other by offering shifts to those who bid the lowest hourly wage.—
Sarita Gupta,
Time,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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His concept of the collective unconscious, a universal element of the human mind connecting past and present, was fundamental to her understanding of images and the interconnected nature of ancient archetypes.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
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The appointment arrives just ahead of the United Nations' International Day of Play on June 11, which highlights the importance of play as a fundamental right for children.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Last spring, the mayor vetoed the budget adopted by the council, and an override ended up being necessary.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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The cosmonauts are effectively the human equivalent of first dog Laika, sacrificing themselves — if necessary — for the good of the wider populous.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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The 79th Annual Tony Awards were a fitting coda to the 2025–26 Broadway season, offering all the requisite nostalgia, vocal prowess, ensemble energy, and a generous amount of pelvic thrusting.—
Lea Donenberg,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
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First, the requisite disclaimer.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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While Dunn estimates around 30% of their work focused on the Ebola response, the rest was basic healthcare and health education with clinic staff.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
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The capsule-wardrobe basic boasts a chic oversized fit, ruched cuffs, and an always-in pinstriped pattern.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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Superintendent Wayne Walters said the Future Ready Facilities Plan is designed to create a more consistent experience by shifting to clearer elementary, middle and high school models and expanding access to art, music, STEM and world languages.—
Gabby Sartori,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Even with some flaws, the Camp Snap 2 just might be the perfect camera for older elementary students and tweens, and earns our Editors' Choice award for its simplicity, low cost, and fun factor.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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So, Rosenthal says that a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones is indispensable.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
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Ann Larson worked at a grocery store during the pandemic, and her experience served as the jumping-off point for this look at labor in the stores—underpaid, underappreciated, and indispensable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrumental. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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