as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
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Recent Examples of pivotal
The system was especially important considering that clothing played such a pivotal role at court, as a symbol of diplomacy and identity.
—
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 June 2026
Your 50s are a pivotal financial decade for securing a comfortable retirement.
—Chris Taylor, NBC news, 11 June 2026
The series now sits at 2-2 with Game 5 slated for a return back to Carolina’s Lenovo Center on Thursday to see who will have the edge in this pivotal clash on ice.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
This timeline places them at a pivotal era just before the Romans invaded southern and eastern Scotland in 79 CE.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 June 2026
Your 50s are a pivotal financial decade for securing a comfortable retirement.
—Chris Taylor, NBC news, 11 June 2026
The series now sits at 2-2 with Game 5 slated for a return back to Carolina’s Lenovo Center on Thursday to see who will have the edge in this pivotal clash on ice.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
This timeline places them at a pivotal era just before the Romans invaded southern and eastern Scotland in 79 CE.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
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Flossie Wong-Staal (1946 - 2020) • China 🇨🇳 Wong-Staal was the first scientist to clone the virus that causes AIDS, a crucial step towards effective treatments against the disease.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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The group, alongside the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, was crucial in helping the families directly affected by last year’s raid.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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This reception by fans in New York City was much different from another key sporting event this year – the College Football National Championship.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
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And Xi’s remarks this time around were also missing a key phrase.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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California officials, including Secretary of State Shirley Weber, have repeatedly refuted claims of fraud and, in fact, have defended the state’s slower process as critical to ensuring the counts are accurate.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
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Remarkably, New York has actually been outscored by four points in his 75 total minutes through two games, yet his critical shot-making in the fourth quarters has come when his team has needed it most.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Iranian military forces stopped a tanker from transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced would be closed yesterday, according to the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
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Also critical is Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for oil and natural gas.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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