instrumental

adjective

Definition of instrumentalnext
as in essential

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instrumental Quakers were also instrumental in the execution of the Underground Railroad. — Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 3 July 2026 Reading his vows, Margera credited her as being instrumental in him finally getting sober and being able to reach his previous heights on a skateboard thanks to her stretching regimen. — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026 The work features four vocal soloists who represent Native American, Sephardic, African American and Protestant religious traditions, along with instrumental music based on early American hymn tunes. — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 The siblings have been there for one another since day one—and Austin’s even been instrumental in masterminding some of his sister’s biggest moments. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrumental
  1. essential
  2. fundamental
  3. necessary
  4. requisite
  5. basic
  6. elementary
  7. indispensable
Adjective
  • The money will finance dozens of routine but essential items, such as a new roof, a 24-seat school bus and outrigger canoes that will be used by military veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress.
    — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • An amazing summer essential and handbag must-have, this refreshing body mist smells like sunshine in a bottle.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of essential
Adjective
  • Meantime, earnings forecasts have soared, largely but not exclusively on the back of the AI-equipment bottleneck, providing plenty of fundamental cover for the tape.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • All of these detention facilities have in common a fundamental disregard for our health and well-being.
    — Brady Tillett, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Definition of fundamental
Adjective
  • Anything tragic that happened to minorities was inevitable and necessary.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • No contribution is necessary but encouraged once the account is open so savings can grow, the site said.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of necessary
Adjective
  • But while deputies were processing the requisite paperwork, he was placed in the same cell as Medina.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Take water quality, for example—a pre-requisite for any good bathing spot.
    — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of requisite
Adjective
  • Attacks on ships — and the threat of them — virtually halted traffic in the waterway during the conflict, causing the price of oil to skyrocket and raising prices on many basic goods, including food, far beyond the region.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • If your bathroom has a basic flush mount, don’t be afraid to replace it with something more eye-catching, like a sputnik chandelier or a lantern pendant.
    — Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
Definition of basic
Adjective
  • Children ages 6-11, in the early elementary years, are still developing socially.
    — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • Nelson is an accomplished educational leader with more than 20 years of experience across elementary, middle, and high school settings.
    — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026
Definition of elementary
Adjective
  • That institutional history is indispensable, but institutions alone do not define a profession.
    — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • By every metric, Blubaugh is blossoming into an almost indispensable piece of the Astros’ attempt to stay afloat in the American League playoff hunt.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of indispensable

Browse Nearby Words

instrument
instrumental
instrumentalist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrumental. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on instrumental

Nglish: Translation of instrumental for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All