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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The Supreme Court on May 4 allowed its recent ruling limiting a key part of the Voting Rights Act to take effect early, boosting the chances that Republicans can impose a new congressional map in Louisiana before the November election.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
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In Arizona, the state’s attorney general is appealing a ruling requiring the criminal case to be returned to a grand jury because prosecutors did not present key legal text.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Three residents died at the scene, while five more were hospitalized with critical injuries, FDNY officials said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
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As Mercury squares Pluto, feedback or a conversation may feel more intense or critical than expected.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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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 12 May. 2026.
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