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
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Chyna would be a welcome addition to any home where love is a key component.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
Adam Frank, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
Whatever your style, the key is to blend comfort, function and personality.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
The duo keyed a fourth quarter start that quickly bumped a six-point lead to 13.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Adjective
And more recently Milei’s sister, a key player in his administration, was accused of taking kickbacks from pharmaceutical contracts.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Chyna would be a welcome addition to any home where love is a key component.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
The key is to stick to ground truths.
—Adam Frank, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
Whatever your style, the key is to blend comfort, function and personality.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Courtney Williams, Collier, and Kayla McBride keyed the effort for Minnesota, shrinking the floor with aggressive on-ball pressure.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
The duo keyed a fourth quarter start that quickly bumped a six-point lead to 13.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
Adjective
-
Transfer fee add-ons, or ‘contingent consideration’, to use accountancy lingo, can be accounted for in different ways, with three main practices used in the industry.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Frontier Drive is also envisioned as the project’s main street and will be lined with shops and restaurants.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
All that fat is crucial for helping bears survive the harsh Alaskan winter.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Finding the right combinations Arguably the biggest challenge in any Ryder Cup is figuring out how to help players of an individual sport work together as a team, so selecting the pairings is crucial.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lewis built a conference room stocked with a long table and six chairs, a projector and screen, and a door for privacy.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
While the team players stayed behind in Long Island, the tables and decor were rooted in a dusty green palette, a subtle nod to the weekend’s visual focus.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Free users, who represent a gateway for future subscriptions, face even stricter limitations.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The typhoon and expected backlogs follow a strong August for China’s top ports, with the Shanghai and Ningbo gateways recording their highest-ever monthly container throughput throughout the month despite the massive trade shifts.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Dorsey Moissanite collection is here, and with Vogue First, Vogue Shopping readers get exclusive access to shop the new drop before anyone else for 24 hours.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Experts who spoke to ABC News also pointed to other factors behind a rise in political violence, such as hostile rhetoric put forward by public figures and access to guns.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ultimately, the pair reconciled and married a third time, staying together until James' death.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Although Gasca has reconciled with her mom, who is about 20 years sober and shares her story with church groups, her early life was roiled by turmoil.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The primary role of liaisons is to remove any barriers for students that would prevent them from accessing their education, said Valerie Gyroy, the academic advisor for families with housing insecurity with the Chandler Unified School District.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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Our silky sateen Violet Gem Sheet Set brings just the right amount of moodiness to your primary or guest bedroom.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Multi-year studies were interrupted and often unrecoverable, loss of support personnel to manage animal facilities and lack of resources to purchase mice, inability to purchase routine critical supplies and equipment.—
D. Scott Schmid,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Highlights of his new hour include a celebration of his Palestinian heritage, reflections on the birth of his son, and a critical look at the TSA.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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