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
Lady Bird also was the pivotal A24 film for Leah, a 24-year-old social media manager at a New York magazine.
—
Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Both have been competing for California’s pivotal Latino vote, and the former Los Angeles mayor’s attacks have become increasingly aggressive as Becerra has ascended in the governor’s race.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
With help from public and private partners, Turner played a pivotal role rebuilding the ranks of the iconic species.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Or how Alex Honnold (who plays a pivotal role in this documentary) described his wariness toward romantic attachment in Free Solo.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Both have been competing for California’s pivotal Latino vote, and the former Los Angeles mayor’s attacks have become increasingly aggressive as Becerra has ascended in the governor’s race.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
With help from public and private partners, Turner played a pivotal role rebuilding the ranks of the iconic species.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Or how Alex Honnold (who plays a pivotal role in this documentary) described his wariness toward romantic attachment in Free Solo.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
-
Attenborough matters because, for generations of TV viewers, in scores of countries, he has been regarded as the person who best understands one crucial purpose of the medium—who has made the most fruitful use of what television, uniquely, can be for.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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Arsenal are firmly in title-chasing mode and goal difference could still prove crucial, despite Manchester City slipping up against Everton on Monday.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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That’s especially apt as the Eagles chase a record sixth consecutive state championship this weekend in Fort Myers, because a key member of the family might not go.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
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Morgan Rielly, the high-end comparable Drance found for Buium, is also a key comparable according to Buium’s current Net Rating profile.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Morton was critical in helping the Broncos reach their first-ever playoff appearance, ultimately getting them to Super Bowl XII during the 1977 campaign.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
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When the war started, governments scrambled to adapt to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for energy flowing to Asia.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Many of his later programs have been capped by a coda in which the tricks of the trade are laid bare—no trick being more vital than that of extreme patience, with camera operators waiting days, or even weeks, for the right cub, or pup, or fledgling, or froglet, to show up.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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We, European cinema professionals and citizens – all cinema lovers – call upon the European Commission, European Parliament and Member States to future-proof the success and integrity of the vital and precious MEDIA programme and reinforce its resources.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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