instrumental

adjective

Definition of instrumentalnext
as in essential

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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 According to the Arkansas Department of Education’s licensure website, Moore is licensed to teach instrumental music and vocal music in the state. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 24 July 2026 Green and his cohorts on the Mizzou offensive line were instrumental in opening holes for Hardy. — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026 Last night, its extended section stretched to 16 minutes, built on deep, psychedelic grooves and the foursome’s remarkable instrumental interplay. — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 23 July 2026 German scientists who came to America after World War II were instrumental in the United States landing men on the moon. — Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 23 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
  • Every season seems to bring another silhouette deemed essential — and if your closet doesn’t already contain it, well, time to go shopping.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 31 July 2026
  • Nvidia’s chips are essential to AI data centers, pushing its business to stratospheric heights.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of essential
Adjective
  • Pressing is the fundamental quality for every player, even those in creative, attacking positions.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Imagine burning down your life's work just to gain an insider edge against a team that barely knows how to play fundamental baseball.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of fundamental
Adjective
  • Debt for any company can be necessary and useful if balanced by the ability to pay the debt service.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
  • If a judge found that Mora broke his agreement with the company, then a jury trial on the other issues of fraudulent misrepresentation, unfair business practices and breach of fiduciary duty may not be necessary, Mora said.
    — Robert Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of necessary
Adjective
  • Catherine’s story line evokes a feverish what-if scenario in which a survivor musters the requisite recklessness, talent for murder, and wig collection to mete out retribution.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
  • The requisite post-credits tag could not feel more gratuitous or useless.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
Definition of requisite
Adjective
  • This basic primer avoids specific military tactics, instead offering general advice for non-military personnel.
    — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • The process starts by inputting your name, address, phone number, email address and a basic description of your project online.
    — Jason Rueger, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of basic
Adjective
  • But now the Orange County School Board is poised to ban e-bikes and e-scooters from elementary and middle school campuses and allow them only at high schools, and only if the student has a driver’s license.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026
  • Iranian media reported that body fragments of 32 victims of a bombing on an Iranian elementary girls' school nearly five months ago, identified after DNA tests, were laid to rest Wednesday.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 22 July 2026
Definition of elementary
Adjective
  • That strategy has been enormously successful and remains indispensable.
    — Nathan W. Cooper, The Conversation, 23 July 2026
  • The result is a death knell for the only indispensable element in self-help, which is the author’s authority.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 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 31 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on instrumental

Nglish: Translation of instrumental for Spanish Speakers

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