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
There were plenty of theatrics staged at center field, including McCartney performing a virtual duet with John Lennon at their seminal rooftop show.
—
Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025
Poe’s seminal works include The Blank Generation (1976), The Foreigner (1978) and Subway Riders (1981).
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025
Dorfman was a seminal figure in the sports psychology and mental skills field.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Floyer almost immediately proved herself a master of producing maximum impact via minimal means, as embodied for example by her seminal 1994 work Light, a single unlit bulb hung from the ceiling and illuminated by four surrounding slide projectors.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025
Poe’s seminal works include The Blank Generation (1976), The Foreigner (1978) and Subway Riders (1981).
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025
Dorfman was a seminal figure in the sports psychology and mental skills field.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Floyer almost immediately proved herself a master of producing maximum impact via minimal means, as embodied for example by her seminal 1994 work Light, a single unlit bulb hung from the ceiling and illuminated by four surrounding slide projectors.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seminal
Adjective
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The influential investor has the respect of Wall Street and deep knowledge of complex financial markets.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Ah, the nostalgic nineties, that notorious decade that's now being strip-mined for its influential music, funky fashion, dance moves, comics, movies, and television.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The deep freeze that changed Texas The February 2021 winter storm brought a historic arctic outbreak across Texas, with multiple rounds of snow and days of sustained subfreezing temperatures.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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McKee attended Catholic high school in Zanesville, a historic Ohio city about 55 miles east of the capital, according to the Diocese of Columbus.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Sleep disturbances While marijuana’s mild sedating and relaxing effects can sometimes help people who have difficulty falling asleep, experts say there are several important things to consider before using it as a sleep aid.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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In erasing these concepts, or transforming them into meaningless slogans, the recent right-wing campaign of educational suppression seeks to eliminate an important means of understanding Black history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There’s a casual, authoritative swing to their performance that belies the stylistic range on the record; the songs touch upon different traditions, yet all sound of a piece.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
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Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Hillis Schild, executive director of the fund, said such projects meet critical community needs, but often struggle to secure traditional bank financing.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
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Nick Geller, managing director of Steadfast LA, highlighted the organization’s emphasis on protecting critical community infrastructure.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence reports indicate Russia is assembling forces for a major aerial attack.—
AAMER MADHANI AND SUSIE BLANN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Jenner, like her sister Kim Kardashian, has often turned to Margiela for her most major moments, with an affinity for the house’s sensual, body-exulting designs.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But what’s actually happening mirrors the post dot-com crash era, where independent creators are doubling down and building new and groundbreaking applications.—
Cortney Harding,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Executive Director Jed Hilly point to the Dirt Band as a groundbreaking influence.—
Holly Gleason,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Seminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seminal. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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