as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect
a tectonic shift in societal trends occurred in the 1960s
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Recent Examples of tectonic
The Axial Seamount, as the volcano is known, is inflating with magma and causing earthquakes where two giant tectonic plates — the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates — are spreading apart.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 May 2025
In South Florida, the shift of tectonic plates sees the evolution and rise of a sport both played on ice and played in the tropics.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Tonga is more than 1,000 miles away from North Island, but they’re both located along the Tonga-Kermadec Trench, an underwater point where two tectonic plates meet.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Many tectonic plates can shift in Florida in the next year or so.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 May 2025
In South Florida, the shift of tectonic plates sees the evolution and rise of a sport both played on ice and played in the tropics.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Tonga is more than 1,000 miles away from North Island, but they’re both located along the Tonga-Kermadec Trench, an underwater point where two tectonic plates meet.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Many tectonic plates can shift in Florida in the next year or so.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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Pakistan has announced its nomination of President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him with averting a major conflict in South Asia at a time when the U.S. leader is contemplating intervention in the Middle East.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
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Jerome Galland As the competition among premium credit cards continues to heat up, one of the industry’s top players is making a major shift.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Adding significant pieces on the open market is costly and risky, perhaps no more or less than daring to move on from Dobson.—
Rob Rossi,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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The company is trading at merely 0.4 times its potential revenues for 2030—a significant discount for a technology leader poised to grow from nothing to over $10 billion in revenue within a few years.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Starting in San Juan Capistrano, visit its mission and historic district before driving north, until U.S. Route 101 merges with Highway 1 just south of Leggett.—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
17 June 2025
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Zwane, is no stranger to the elite competition, having been part of the Mamelodi Sundowns squad that featured at the Club World Cup in 2016, following their historic CAF Champions League victory under then-coach Pitso Mosimane.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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His most important influence, though, remained lithography—its limestone and grease pencil—and the engraver’s chisel.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
24 June 2025
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Getty Images Iran launched a missile strike against the largest American military installation in the Middle East, near Doha, Qatar, in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iran's most important nuclear sites over the weekend.—
Michele Luhn,
CNBC,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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His commitment gives Michigan its biggest recruiting win of the summer so far and another head-to-head victory against the Crimson Tide, the program Michigan beat in bowl games the past two years.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
24 June 2025
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Seeing Fleetwood miss that putt, Bradley stepped up to his ball for the win and sunk it, letting out a big cheer along with the many in the crowd.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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