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
Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Regardless of ripeness, all bananas provide key nutrients such as potassium.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
The key is knowing which stops deliver and sequencing them so nothing goes to waste.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Jack Leo, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Without one or two players to key on, UConn could be in for a long night defensively.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for key
Adjective
For rival candidates in a wide-open race, the key issue is where Swalwell’s supporters will go.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Regardless of ripeness, all bananas provide key nutrients such as potassium.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
The key, however, is consistency.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
The key is knowing which stops deliver and sequencing them so nothing goes to waste.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
Harpring keyed the win with a 40-point performance — by no means a rarity — and broke the GHSA’s all-time career points record in the opening minutes.
—Jack Leo, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Without one or two players to key on, UConn could be in for a long night defensively.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
Adjective
-
Shuttle services have been arranged to transport journalists between the media center and a hotel in the city’s main shopping mall.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But the leak appeared to get worse when the service module fired its main engine for the translunar injection burn on Day 2 of the flight, according to Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s associate administrator.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Clippers head to Portland on Friday for a crucial game.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Starzyk said longtime volunteers like Dee McClintock, an 80-year-old who has worked with the organization for 18 years, are crucial to Abandoned Pet Rescue.—
Amanda Rosa
April 9,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The space will offer a stylish retreat with lounge seating, dining tables, a bespoke bar and a custom DJ booth.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Unfortunately, this silent gateway to CVD and possibly dementia continues to be ignored by many in our society and not seen outside of the lens of quality of life.—
Denise Asafu-Adjei,
STAT,
13 Apr. 2026
-
As the gateway to New River Gorge National Park, the little town of Fayetteville has earned a reputation as an ideal getaway for extreme sports.—
Jordan Charbonneau,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bronx Science is one of the highly competitive specialized New York City public high schools where access to a free, élite education rests on a single admissions test.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The conflict has snarled access to oil and gas, driving up prices and sparking fears among some economists about a potential recession.—
Mary Ramsey
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the season progresses, though, these two worlds become more difficult to reconcile.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The human condition starts to reconcile things on the way out the door.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Wolves expect to challenge for Porter County Conference and postseason titles, and Powell is prepared to be a primary contributor.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Industry leaders said some migrant workers employed by the textile companies were struggling to secure liquified petroleum gas, the primary cooking fuel.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Lebanon's top political authorities, critical of Hezbollah's decision to fire rockets towards Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, quickly proposed direct talks in a bid to stop the escalation, hoping that Israel would not launch its ground invasion.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Gulf is building the entire cake, and the region’s governments will not abandon their most critical layers simply because the geopolitical temperature has risen.—
Winston Ma,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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