as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
an extensive grounding in mathematics is a sine qua non for a career in architecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sine qua non
At that point, sunglasses lose their sine qua non purpose to protect our eyes, becoming a purely ornamental element capable of elevating an entire outfit.
—
Teresa Romero Martínez, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2025
The sine qua non for an economic deal is that Ukrainian leadership wants a peace deal.
—CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025
Some are fast to embrace the admittedly exciting bold new possibilities of Artificial Intelligence as the future sine qua non of effective schooling.
—Vicki Phillips, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Season 2 fulfills this sine qua non with deceptive ease.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sine qua non
Teresa Romero Martínez, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2025
The sine qua non for an economic deal is that Ukrainian leadership wants a peace deal.
—CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025
Some are fast to embrace the admittedly exciting bold new possibilities of Artificial Intelligence as the future sine qua non of effective schooling.
—Vicki Phillips, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Season 2 fulfills this sine qua non with deceptive ease.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sine qua non
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sine qua non
Noun
-
The home is constructed with Nordic wood, which not only is lightweight and easy to work with, but also resistant to weathering and decay from rain, snow, extreme temperatures, and fungus—a must in the fluctuating Southern climates.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The ancient structure is a must-visit attraction and a symbol of China’s rich cultural heritage.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The peculiar requirement is an homage to Emma Stone’s character in the film, who is a bald-headed CEO who ends up kidnapped and suspected of being an alien.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), approved by Congress earlier this year, introduces stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by limiting who can be exempt from the program’s time restrictions.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gaza needs to be rebuilt from the ground up, even as necessities like food remain a critical challenge.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Indeed, despite the trillions of federal dollars that were committed or spent to boost local economies, voters blamed Biden and Harris for high inflation that raised the cost living as food, housing, healthcare and other necessities got more expensive.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sine qua non.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sine%20qua%20non. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share