as in cornerstones
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests
a sense of history is the keystone to the city's draw as a tourist destination
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Recent Examples of keystones
Just trying to get to the keystones in this instance.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
And how exactly does that fit into the equation of the keystones of our survival?
—Outside Online, 12 Nov. 2025
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
And how exactly does that fit into the equation of the keystones of our survival?
—Outside Online, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keystones
Noun
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With the addition of productive veterans and, more critically, the growth of cornerstones like Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, McTavish’s malaise has been easy to overlook.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
2 Mar. 2026
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Lifestyle remains essential — adequate physical activity, nutrition, sleep and stress management are cornerstones of cardiovascular health.—
Jia Shen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Slow, sectional removal is best for large shrubs near structures to prevent damage to patios, fences, or foundations.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The Revolutionary Guard oversaw vast foundations that controlled large parts of the economy.—
Babak Dehghanpisheh,
NBC news,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Better yet, those bedrocks are as plentiful as ever.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Nov. 2025
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The bedrocks of healthy behavior are your biggest assets for staying disease-free.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keystones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keystones. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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