as in essential
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Recent Examples of instrumental
The First Amendment right to observe and record law enforcement officers has proven instrumental in documenting violence by federal immigration enforcement and critical to a nationwide resistance movement.
—
Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Franklin was instrumental in organizing major events like Juneteenth and Garfield Days.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Fields was instrumental in renaming Jacksonville roads to honor civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.
—David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 13 Feb. 2026
Faculty said the staff were instrumental in guiding the university’s transition to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring students across colleges found research opportunities.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Franklin was instrumental in organizing major events like Juneteenth and Garfield Days.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Fields was instrumental in renaming Jacksonville roads to honor civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.
—David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 13 Feb. 2026
Faculty said the staff were instrumental in guiding the university’s transition to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring students across colleges found research opportunities.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrumental
Adjective
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There are five treatment rooms in total, and a traditional hammam is essential for the full Moroccan experience.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
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Cuba's communist government has implemented rationing measures to protect essential services in a country that was already suffering from severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This, too, is a fundamental sociological insight.—
Wendy Nelson Espeland,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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But Marcus noted that utility regulation is under state and local authorities, meaning White House action is limited to rhetorical headline risk rather than a fundamental shift in policy.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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During a government shutdown, all federal functions necessary for public safety, national security and protecting government property may continue, though employees work without pay.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Still, some major employers either believe AI tools will make junior staff more productive, as is the case with IBM, or that challenging early-career workers was necessary to maintain a talent pipeline, as PwC argues.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Hemsworth brings interesting shadings to his role, showcasing the requisite amount of Steve McQueen-style macho cool (the iconic actor is pointedly referenced) but also conveying Davis’ increasing fear and vulnerability.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
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While not unprecedented, suede is used for the upper in the name of greater flexibility, and the requisite branding swaps have been made on the tongue, mustache and lace dubrae.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Second, our basic law includes some rights--like the right to bear arms--phrased more strongly than the federal constitution.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
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Vast's 2027 mission will follow that same basic pattern, according to NASA.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The House Common Education Committee unanimously passed House Bill 4358 that would allow no more than one hour of screen time each school day for elementary students.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
12 Feb. 2026
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Yazmin Ramirez brought her three children, who are in elementary or middle school, with no sewing experience to the class.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In terms of making things happen, energy is an indispensable consideration.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Feb. 2026
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Advertisement She is expected to emphasize that Japan remains America’s indispensable partner in Asia and point to Tokyo’s accelerating defense spending, which aims to hit the threshold of 2% of GDP and boost its military capacity.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrumental. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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