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
Reagan amid the tumult and tectonic fracturing of the 1960s Civil Rights and Free Speech movements.
—
Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The temperature and pressure of the magma reservoir, the weakness of the enclosing rock, the gas and crystal content, the depth of the magma, the regional motion of tectonic plates — these factors all contribute to whether a paroxysm happens or fizzles out.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
Landslides are common in the coastal mountains of Alaska where rapid uplift, caused by tectonic forces and long-term ice loss, converges with the erosive forces of precipitation and moving glaciers.
—Ezgi Karasözen, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
And that tectonic movement didn’t push them straight up, but tilted them just a few degrees.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The temperature and pressure of the magma reservoir, the weakness of the enclosing rock, the gas and crystal content, the depth of the magma, the regional motion of tectonic plates — these factors all contribute to whether a paroxysm happens or fizzles out.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
Landslides are common in the coastal mountains of Alaska where rapid uplift, caused by tectonic forces and long-term ice loss, converges with the erosive forces of precipitation and moving glaciers.
—Ezgi Karasözen, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
And that tectonic movement didn’t push them straight up, but tilted them just a few degrees.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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The Jaguars will play at Camping World Stadium in Orlando in 2027 while their home field, EverBank Stadium, undergoes major renovations.—
Scott Turick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
James Ward During the debate, Republican Steve Hilton vowed to restart offshore oil drilling in California — a proposal that conflicts with decades of state policy shaped by major oil spills and strict coastal protections.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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BuzzFeed soon will make another round of significant cost cuts prior to Allen’s takeover, Peretti said in the statement.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Those troops are still there, and significant mistrust remains a threat to peace.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
This historic settlement reflects an institutional and fundamental cultural shift away from radical ‘gender’ ideology.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Not only is Benyamin’s graduation historic for the university, but his educational accomplishments are rare.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
The promises made and attacks scattered like buckshot on the San Francisco soundstage all seem much less important than the numbers that show up in opinion polls between now and Election Day.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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This is especially important for low-income communities and others who rely heavily on the shot for contraception.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The goal, Cogan’s first in over two years, set up a winner-takes-all third period and another remarkable moment from Poulin in the biggest PWHL game of her career.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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The bill, which was supported by nurses, teachers, construction workers and service employees in Connecticut, is one of the biggest victories for organized labor in the state in recent years.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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