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
Having worked in close contact with Atwood for the last decade, Miller knew that the author was working on a sequel to her seminal 1985 novel long before The Testaments hit bookshelves in 2019, which was halfway into the Handmaid’s six-season run.
—
Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
Back for the first time in three weeks and up against some March Madness hangovers, tonight’s Saturday Night Live sees Jack Black back as host for the seminal fifth time.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026
Over 40 years after his death, Gaye continues to be considered one of the seminal musicians of the 20th century.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
The tragedy was a seminal moment for some the same way the death of Princess Diana was just two years earlier for others.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
Back for the first time in three weeks and up against some March Madness hangovers, tonight’s Saturday Night Live sees Jack Black back as host for the seminal fifth time.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026
Over 40 years after his death, Gaye continues to be considered one of the seminal musicians of the 20th century.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
The tragedy was a seminal moment for some the same way the death of Princess Diana was just two years earlier for others.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seminal
Adjective
-
His major break arrived in 1967 when director Arthur Penn hired him to oversee the artistic direction of what would become one of the late-1960s’ most popular and influential films, Bonnie and Clyde, the Depression Era true-crime-and-love story starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
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Through interviews with other influential artists, the film highlights the emotional and societal burdens that accompany their achievements, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in celebrating their contributions to music and culture.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on Iran and the United States to keep their commitment to maintain a ceasefire, after both countries ended historic face-to-face talks without an agreement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The astronauts snapped thousands of photos during their historic pass around the moon, shot video and recorded their personal observations to give researchers insights based on the color sensitivity of the human eye.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While the handling of the outburst by BAFTA and the BBC wasn’t ideal for anyone involved, the outrage and fallout from the event shows that Davidson’s lifelong mission to educate the wider population about Tourette syndrome is ongoing, and so important.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Continuing the momentum with frequent Artemis launches is important to maintain support for the program.—
Thomas Black,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
We are put in charge of making our own way, through tapestries and tea sets, past ancient jug and contemporary sphinx, without heavy-handed authoritative direction.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
This is the version of Banchero the Magic need; not just productive, but authoritative.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
This is a boom-or-bust pick, as Banks has some of the highest pass-rushing upside in the draft but major injury concerns.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Mike Florio and Chris Simms discuss some of the top storylines heading into the 2026 NFL draft and explain why this year likely won’t have a major story like the slide of Shedeur Sanders.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fahnestock said at the meeting that the current plan is to have a groundbreaking or ceremonial event for the square and tree this coming July, perhaps accompanied by a naming competition or time capsule.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This documentary explores the life and legacy of Sly Stone and his groundbreaking band, Sly & the Family Stone, while delving into the broader themes of the pressures and complexities faced by Black artists navigating success.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Seminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seminal. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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