as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pivotal
Practicing soft skills is pivotal to that preparation, Villalobos said.
—
Victoria Le, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
June is Pride Month, when LGBTQ+ communities traditionally commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, a pivotal moment in gay and lesbian history.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
The story of this pivotal moment in World War II, which gave the Allies a foothold in mainland Europe and spelled the beginning of the end for Adolf Hitler’s forces, has been recounted in countless books, movies and miniseries.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
Sergei Korolev was one of the most pivotal figures in the early days of space exploration.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Victoria Le, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
June is Pride Month, when LGBTQ+ communities traditionally commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, a pivotal moment in gay and lesbian history.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
The story of this pivotal moment in World War II, which gave the Allies a foothold in mainland Europe and spelled the beginning of the end for Adolf Hitler’s forces, has been recounted in countless books, movies and miniseries.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
Sergei Korolev was one of the most pivotal figures in the early days of space exploration.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
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That data is crucial to understanding and adapting to climate change and to a vast array of industries on land and at sea like aquaculture, shipping especially through icy waters, coastal tourism, agriculture and even navies, Le Traon said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
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Without the armrests on one side, the silhouette creates airiness, something that’s crucial in a couch for a small space.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
4 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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The stadium is now used by people seeking shelter from gangs, who now control key routes to and from the capital, choking off vital supplies in the Caribbean nation grappling with a deepening hunger crisis.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
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Oman has reportedly been in talks with Iran about charging vessels transiting the Hormuz Strait, the vital global oil-shipping route that has been largely blocked by Iranian threats since the war began.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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