Thesaurus results for KEYSTONES

keystones

noun

plural of keystone

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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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 keystones The theory of evolution, one of the keystones of modern biological theory, is based on the idea that living things on Earth can be traced back to other preexisting types and that the differences are due to modifications that occurred over successive generations. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keystones

Noun

Movie theaters like ours are the economic and cultural cornerstones of communities across this great nation — in all 50 states, in cities and towns, big and small.

— Paul Gunsky, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
In the 1950s and 1960s, suburban malls were explicitly designed as community cornerstones, complete with bustling food courts, movie theaters, arcades, and a smorgasbord of shops.

— Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of cornerstones

Noun

Doing so would entail repairing cracks that admit water, maintaining the foundations of each section, applying a sealant to slow the weathering process, and keeping the encroachment of vegetation in check.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
That period also provided the foundations for where City currently sits within the top echelons of world soccer – having won the UEFA Champions League back in 2023 and winning four consecutive Premier Leagues from 2021 to 2024.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of foundations

Noun

The tall temples feature square bases and conical towers adorned with intricate stone carvings of gods and mythical animals, with the three largest structures dedicated to Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu.

— Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Its armed forces have proved capable of continuing to damage American military bases despite coming under heavy bombardment.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of bases

Noun

The costs of health insurance are pushing small businesses — beloved by politicians and the bedrocks of entire communities — to a financial cliff.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 7 July 2026
Hillary Rodham Clinton also reflect on the bedrocks of our democracy, including the Electoral College and the peaceful transfer of power.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 June 2026

Definition of bedrocks

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keystone

keystones

keys (up)

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“Keystones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keystones. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of keystones

noun

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