as in essential
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Recent Examples of instrumental
Recently, the Urban Summit was instrumental in urging the Kansas City Council to approve an ordinance that banned the sale of mini liquor bottles in certain parts of the city.
—
Freddrell Green, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026
Forwards Folarin Balogun, who found the net against Senegal, and Ricardo Pepi, who was instrumental in two goals against Senegal, have looked excellent these past two weeks.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 7 June 2026
Conservatives say the candidates could be instrumental to help ensure that any potential election problems in their states are handled quickly and aggressively, including ensuring that noncitizens don’t vote.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Pandya Malhotra joined the foundation in early 2019, just two years after Saudi Arabia lifted its cinema ban, and was instrumental in steering the creation of the country’s first international film festival.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Freddrell Green, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026
Forwards Folarin Balogun, who found the net against Senegal, and Ricardo Pepi, who was instrumental in two goals against Senegal, have looked excellent these past two weeks.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 7 June 2026
Conservatives say the candidates could be instrumental to help ensure that any potential election problems in their states are handled quickly and aggressively, including ensuring that noncitizens don’t vote.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Pandya Malhotra joined the foundation in early 2019, just two years after Saudi Arabia lifted its cinema ban, and was instrumental in steering the creation of the country’s first international film festival.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrumental
Adjective
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But brewing has been an essential industry in Wisconsin for hundreds of years, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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As for how companies should go about executing all this, Whitman made the case that in-office mandates should be essential, and that imposing them is crucial to building skills in younger workers.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
9 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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