1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
maintains that Sir Isaac Newton remains the key figure in physical science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
first—and this is key—I wasn't even there that evening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in gateway
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal
a good education is the key to success
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in access
the means or right of entering or participating in
he had found the key to her heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to reconcile
to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences
her response was perfectly keyed to the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of key
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
Often romanticized and glorified as a triumphant moment in Western histories, Columbus’s travels wreaked havoc in the Caribbean, which became one of the key areas for European expansion and subsequently violent accumulation.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Ashton Palmer, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
The key is to enjoy Halloween as a special occasion while helping kids learn that treats are fine in moderation, not an everyday habit.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2025
This seems to be the common belief among viewers, who have keyed into production details like the sci-fi-ish retrofuturist tech that Steven Lockjaw (Sean Penn) uses to test Willa’s DNA.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Adjective
Shifeng added that the company plans to prioritize advances in key technologies for offshore computing infrastructure, improve operations and maintenance and pursue greener, low-carbon upgrades.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
Often romanticized and glorified as a triumphant moment in Western histories, Columbus’s travels wreaked havoc in the Caribbean, which became one of the key areas for European expansion and subsequently violent accumulation.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
The key is choosing an itinerary that matches your activity level and interests.
—Ashton Palmer, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
The key is to enjoy Halloween as a special occasion while helping kids learn that treats are fine in moderation, not an everyday habit.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Other companies explain how their security keys fit into your cybersecurity toolkit, such as Yubico's posts about open authentication standards supported by its products, or the list of services accepting hardware security keys sponsored by Nitrokey (linked to by Google).
—PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2025
This seems to be the common belief among viewers, who have keyed into production details like the sci-fi-ish retrofuturist tech that Steven Lockjaw (Sean Penn) uses to test Willa’s DNA.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
Adjective
-
As for Sundance’s main slate of world premiere films, the festival is still heads down screening some half a dozen movies a day ahead of lineup announcements later this fall.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The verdict of the Specialized Criminal Court in the city of Banska Bystrica closes a trial that began in July and whose main question was whether Cintula, who admitted shooting Fico, was guilty of terrorism or less serious crimes of murder or attack.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s why career development conversations play such a crucial role.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
-
That Episode 5 car ride is arguably the series’ most crucial scene, and the dialogue about the vagrant bird its most poignant.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sometimes captains would provide space in their luxurious cabins for the klabautermann to sleep and share food and drink from their table.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
More than 20 televisions will show football and sports with live music, pool tables and a central horseshoe bar.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This test—steeped in the texts of the Great Tradition—pushes students and schools to treat assessments not as a bureaucratic hoop or a mechanism of exclusion, but as a gateway to deep, reflective learning and engagement with timeless lessons that form both mind and soul.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
These impacts carry immediate ecological costs and longer term economic costs for agencies and gateway communities.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That’s why employees receive free and discounted access to our full line of organic hemp products.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Equity in food access at Plant Joy Deli Childs' energy around her business comes back to her core belief that food, especially healthy options, shouldn't be out of reach for anyone.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
How does Clark reconcile the dangers of sports betting with players’ financial gains?—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
And there’s also the fact that Harry has taken the first steps towards possibly reconciling with his family, and is eager to continue working on that.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Two guest bedrooms can be found downstairs, while four more upstairs bedrooms include a secluded primary retreat that comes with a fireplace, a dressing room, and dual baths.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
-
This corner room offered the perfect view to keep watch over Main Street and the primary north-south international highway.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Black Americans were at a critical juncture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
After the war, Riefenstahl’s career included invitations to film festivals and critical praise, a lovely lake home in Bavaria, and snarling attacks on anyone who questioned her lies.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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