as in essential
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Recent Examples of instrumental
Michael was instrumental in helping the band secure its first full-length record deal with Motown Records after being scouted by Bobby Taylor.
—
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Beyond her direct work with youth, Sarver plays an instrumental role in shaping the culture of the club.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Gert-Jan, an art restitution lawyer instrumental in returning the Scythian gold to Ukraine, sits on numerous cultural boards; while Corinne comes from an art-loving family, a member of whom co-founded the Tefaf Maastricht Art Fair.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
His musical performances were instrumental in breaking racial barriers.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Beyond her direct work with youth, Sarver plays an instrumental role in shaping the culture of the club.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Gert-Jan, an art restitution lawyer instrumental in returning the Scythian gold to Ukraine, sits on numerous cultural boards; while Corinne comes from an art-loving family, a member of whom co-founded the Tefaf Maastricht Art Fair.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
His musical performances were instrumental in breaking racial barriers.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrumental
Adjective
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Also, from the music aspect, timeliness is just an essential part of music.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In the historical records of Central Florida, there are names that come up again and again — people whose contributions were essential to the changes that shaped the greater Orlando area for generations to come.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The two share mechanical underpinnings, including their powertrains and most fundamental off-road hardware.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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This breakthrough provides a practical toolkit for directly probing quantum electrodynamics and observing the fundamental, extreme interactions between light and the quantum vacuum.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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With his girth, incredible wingspan (85 inches) and arm length (35 inches), Collins is the requisite two-gap defensive tackle necessary for San Francisco’s defense.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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That means an entertainment license wouldn’t be necessary anymore for bars that want to host trivia nights, for bowling alleys and for coffee shops that have an unamplified live performer.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Biggest question mark Can Jonah Coleman quickly earn the requisite trust from Payton to become the team’s new third-down back?—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
First the requisite history lesson.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The first is to start with super basic exercises unique to the core stability category.—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
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The state defines neglect as intentionally not meeting a child’s basic needs, such as adequate food or weather-appropriate clothing.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jacobson followed his father to Concordia College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1999.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
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And scattering experiments showed that, at an elementary level, reality was described by individual quanta, possessing specific properties common to all members of their species.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Lightweight Cardigan A lightweight cardigan is one of those pieces that quietly becomes indispensable on any trip.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
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Most important, however, is how indispensable Starlink has become to modern militaries.—
Ben Tarnoff,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrumental. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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