as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pivotal
Running back Kyle Monangai, a 7th round pick last year, also played a pivotal role on offense, totaling 783 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the regular season and playoffs.
—
Matt Zahn, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
There is a moment — subtle but pivotal — when Emma connects with a peer, shares an emotional opening and is welcomed into a community of students working on gun violence prevention.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
The pivotal scene that causes a break in their relationship is head-spinning.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
And to choose this particular image is symbolic of this evolving story in America at this pivotal time.
—Ava Pukatch, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Matt Zahn, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
There is a moment — subtle but pivotal — when Emma connects with a peer, shares an emotional opening and is welcomed into a community of students working on gun violence prevention.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
The pivotal scene that causes a break in their relationship is head-spinning.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
And to choose this particular image is symbolic of this evolving story in America at this pivotal time.
—Ava Pukatch, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
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The comments come amid growing concerns that the threat of mines in the key waterway, as well as the standoff between the two navies, will leave the crucial trade route effectively blocked for some time.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
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The focus now is on the crucial first test flight of its third version of the Starship rocket, whose launch was already pushed back a month to May.—
Thomas Black,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Shojaei was a key cog in the movement to overturn that ban, which was partially achieved for national team matches in 2023.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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Kelly says multifunctional furniture is key for relaxed entertaining, and this table is a great example.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The teamwork and professionalism shown by the officers today are a testament to their training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and critical decision-making.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
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But for Ternus, perhaps the most critical aspect of his new job will be pushing the company deeper into AI, where it's lagged many of its megacap peers.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Porsche is not having the best time of things after betting too heavily on EVs, which looks even worse in the vital US market thanks to Trump’s tariffs.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
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Amyloidosis is a rare but serious condition caused by abnormal protein deposits that can damage vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and nervous system.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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