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
Specifically, the duration of tectonic extension phases that occurred long before mountains were even formed heavily influences this outcome.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 May 2026
And its landscape is otherworldly—with a rift valley, lava fields torn apart by tectonic forces, and gorges and fissures aplenty.
—Carinne Geil Botta, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Underwater hydrothermal vents form at the edges of Earth’s tectonic plates, where seawater is able to trickle down through the crust.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 700-mile fault stretching from Northern California to British Columbia and separates the Juan de Fuca and North America tectonic plates, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN).
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 May 2026
And its landscape is otherworldly—with a rift valley, lava fields torn apart by tectonic forces, and gorges and fissures aplenty.
—Carinne Geil Botta, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Underwater hydrothermal vents form at the edges of Earth’s tectonic plates, where seawater is able to trickle down through the crust.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 700-mile fault stretching from Northern California to British Columbia and separates the Juan de Fuca and North America tectonic plates, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN).
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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Senior Matheus Alvarenga said the chemistry on the team has been a major reason for the fluidity.—
Zach McMahon,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
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Miami reaching the national title game was a major step for a program that had been in a 20-year slumber.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Officials described the discovery as a significant blow to criminal organizations that rely on underground smuggling routes to move narcotics and other contraband across the border.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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The concerns stem from baseball's history of labor disputes and the significant divide between the league and the MLB Players Association on several economic issues.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Everything was building over the past two years, from the historic in-season overhaul two seasons ago to the high-profile additions ahead of the March trade deadline, towards a championship run this spring.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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So that’s just historic and incredible and really is so newsworthy to be, why to go in 2026.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Smart toys that can directly respond to children and their environments have proliferated in recent years, offering parents a new way to teach their children important skills.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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In an era where leaders are turning to AI for answers to their most important business questions, relying on a single model locks employees into one set of responses, biases and blind spots.—
John Davie,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Most travelers surveyed said their biggest regrets occurred as young adults.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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Among the big three of the Beats, Ginsberg remains the most enduring.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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