as in influential
very important especially in having a strong influence on things that come later
She authored several seminal papers that are frequently cited in later works because they laid the theoretical groundwork for future studies.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of seminal
Peck uses Orwell’s own words (voiced by the actor Damian Lewis) to illustrate how the author’s vision of a totalitarian future, as articulated in his seminal novel 1984, can be glimpsed around the world.
—
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025
In retrospect, this sort of experience was probably a seminal part of my generation's educational upbringing.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Republicans praised Kirk as a seminal figure.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Founder Billy Wilkerson—publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, who was also seminal in the formation of Los Angeles’s Sunset Strip—originally dreamed up the resort, but quickly ran short of cash during its construction.
—Julie Tremaine, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025
In retrospect, this sort of experience was probably a seminal part of my generation's educational upbringing.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Republicans praised Kirk as a seminal figure.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Founder Billy Wilkerson—publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, who was also seminal in the formation of Los Angeles’s Sunset Strip—originally dreamed up the resort, but quickly ran short of cash during its construction.
—Julie Tremaine, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seminal
Adjective
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Predicting what matters in fashion was once an elite sport, the province of those who attend those big runway shows in New York, Milan, London, and – right now – Paris, like the editors of influential magazines.—
Chloe Veltman,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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The more centrally located an entrepreneur is within a web of influential contacts, the greater the access to social capital and other valuable resources.—
Sarah Maokosy,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Walker-Stone House is a historic structure downtown that houses the Folk School of Fayetteville.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Sep. 2025
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Precise numbers of staffing cuts are hard to pin down, but their historic scale in the first eight months of this administration is unmistakable.—
Chris Sellers,
The Conversation,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
None is more important than quarterback Lamar Jackson.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Is the appearance of an authoritative dictionary at a precise moment in the history of a language a statement about its maturity?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
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The site has been weaponized to magnify climate denial and vaccine denial messaging, while drowning out actual authoritative scientific sources and voices.—
Michael E. Mann,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The armed group controls tens of thousands of acres of coca plantations and has gained significant political leverage as President Gustavo Petro’s Administration scrambles to secure agreements with armed groups critical to advancing Colombia’s broader peace talks and anti-narcotics efforts.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
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Yet the medical center in central Ukraine, just 60 miles from the frontline, plays a critical role in the current Russia-Ukraine war, where traumatic brain injuries are all-too-common.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Hernández’s issues in right field are well-documented, and the Dodgers already had to overcome one major miscue this postseason during Game 2 of the Wild Card Series.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Thanks to a groundbreaking agreement last summer, Anythink and its Rocky Mountain peers can now get around those prohibitive licensing costs.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
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But one of the most groundbreaking studies of the year so far about brain health was about the power of our daily behaviors.—
Arianna Huffington,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Seminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seminal. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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