INSTRUMENTAL Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

instrumental

adjective

Definition of instrumental

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 There’s a sisyphean sensation, emphasized by the instrumental version of a song looped in the background for most of the film. — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Butler had been instrumental in building AAU volleyball into a powerhouse. — Molly Hensley-Clancy, ProPublica, 13 Aug. 2026 Third-party video evidence was similarly instrumental in showing what transpired when officers shot and killed Good in Minneapolis in January. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 12 Aug. 2026 There’s a lot to unpack in the dime novel origins of the Western, as well as the dime novel to Wild West show pipeline, which was instrumental in creating global legends out of folk heroes like Buffalo Bill Cody. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instrumental

Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrumental

Adjective

One of those arrangements just survived Supreme Court review as essential to the integrity of the number.

— Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Rafael Pelli, Pelli’s son and a partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners, told The Art Newspaper that the natural environment surrounding the center was an essential element in its design.

— News Desk, Artforum, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of essential

Adjective

Some of those fundamental points outlined in that piece will be used here to get you up to speed on the weighty topic.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Known as Eurasianism, this conviction in the fundamental difference between Russia and the West at least partly underpins the Kremlin’s ruling ideology today.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fundamental

Adjective

In the world of corporate mergers and acquisitions, an out-of-town buyer looks to cut costs in order to help cover the share-price premium necessary to clinch the deal and those reductions typically come mainly at the expense of the seller.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
The district court order would still allow below-ground construction or any other measures necessary to protect national security and the president's safety.

— Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of necessary

Adjective

This hamlet is Liguria reduced to its essence, with a coastline flanked by the requisite colored stone fishermen’s houses, and tranquil bays—Prelo, Trelo, and Pomaro--rimmed by sand and pebble beaches.

— Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The 24 Hours of Daytona-winning Porsche by Penske Motorsports and the 964 Turbo from Bad Boys will also make appearances for requisite Instagram photo opps.

— Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of requisite

Adjective

However, measures in place to limit the spread, such as regular handwashing and social distancing, are not followed at the artisanal mining sites, where work to extract gold is done by workers using basic hand tools like shovels and pans.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Engineers could then make decisions using intelligence that looks credible but fails basic technical checks.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of basic

Adjective

At Venetian Parc Academy, elementary students were starting the year in classrooms without individual desks, working in groups and using artificial intelligence as part of their daily lessons.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2026
According to the district, only 83% of elementary seats and 79% of middle school seats were filled during the 2024 to 2025 school year.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of elementary

Adjective

China is also positioning itself as an indispensable player in setting global standards for open-source hardware.

— Christopher K. Tong, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026
Humans will continue to be indispensable for interpretation, context and evaluation—to decide what is interesting and why.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of indispensable

Browse Nearby Words

instrument

instrumental

instrumentalist

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“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrumental. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of instrumental

adjective

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