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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Recent Examples of seminal
The seminal story of hubristic man’s creation of intelligence, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, arose from the voice of a 19-year-old woman.
—
Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
The five-day march, one of the seminal moments in civil rights history, led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Beyond its commercial success, the album became a seminal pop-punk record and a monument of its time.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Turing proved this seminal result by inventing a formal mathematical model of computation in which programs are represented by hypothetical devices now called Turing machines.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
The five-day march, one of the seminal moments in civil rights history, led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Beyond its commercial success, the album became a seminal pop-punk record and a monument of its time.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Turing proved this seminal result by inventing a formal mathematical model of computation in which programs are represented by hypothetical devices now called Turing machines.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seminal
Adjective
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Psychologist Meg Jay, in her influential book The Defining Decade, warns against passivity but also reassures that change and momentum can be built at any age.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
One influential boxing figure in the United States, who spoke to The Athletic on condition of anonymity to protect working relationships, said the Saudi purses have changed how fighters assess their bouts.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
From host Nate Bargatze's Boys and Girls Club gamble to Tramell Tillman's historic win, here are the most notable highs and lows from the Primetime Emmy Awards.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Sep. 2025
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Consumer sentiment is slipping near historic lows.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The plants captured more carbon without drawing more water, an important factor for real-world applications.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
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,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In June, more than 20 authoritative organizations, including the National Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, expressed serious concerns for the health impacts of overhauling the advisory committee.—
Jordan Miller,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
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In a time of noise and distraction, his quiet yet authoritative voice continues to show the way.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Xi Jinping has remarked that relying on foreign supply of critical technologies—like semiconductors—is tantamount to building one's house on someone else's foundation.—
Joel Thayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Bynum made a diving catch that extinguished a critical drive for the Broncos.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2024, Nepal ranked 107th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, with 84% of people perceiving government corruption to be a major problem.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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The Atlanta carrier plummeted from first place in 2022 to seventh in 2024 — the biggest drop of any major airline.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Her recent appointment as Creative Director of Proenza Schouler marks a groundbreaking moment in Black fashion, affirming her place as a visionary shaping the future of the industry.—
Karissa Mitchell,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
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Snoop Dogg has sparked backlash for anti-gay remarks made on a podcast, nearly two decades after his cameo on the groundbreaking lesbian drama The L Word.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Seminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seminal. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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