as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect
a tectonic shift in societal trends occurred in the 1960s
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 tectonic
Hitting the new benchmark highlights the upheaval being unleashed by an artificial intelligence craze that’s widely viewed as the biggest tectonic shift in technology since Apple co-founder Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone 18 years ago.
—
Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Southern China’s tropical to subtropical climate – with heavy rainfall, heat, and humidity – accelerates chemical weathering, while the region’s long history of tectonic and magmatic activity adds further erosion.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
Taiwan’s one saving grace may be dysfunction in the PLA top brass, among whom a tectonic power struggle is raging.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Since 1999 Goldfinger and his team have been drilling into the seafloor at this tectonic crossroads, known as the Mendocino Triple Junction, to pull up cores that show a cross section of the sediments that have built up there.
—Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Southern China’s tropical to subtropical climate – with heavy rainfall, heat, and humidity – accelerates chemical weathering, while the region’s long history of tectonic and magmatic activity adds further erosion.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
Taiwan’s one saving grace may be dysfunction in the PLA top brass, among whom a tectonic power struggle is raging.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Since 1999 Goldfinger and his team have been drilling into the seafloor at this tectonic crossroads, known as the Mendocino Triple Junction, to pull up cores that show a cross section of the sediments that have built up there.
—Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Obviously, injuries are playing a major factor, but will the Sabres even be able to stay afloat until the lineup is fully healthy?—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s a significant contrast to other parts of the Forbidden City, marked by wide open spaces intended to represent the grandeur of imperial power and territory.—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
This development poses potentially significant implications for American travelers and the airline industry dependent on reliable air transportation.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Critics argue the ballroom's sheer scale—twice the size of the main residence—will fundamentally alter the White House's historic proportions and architectural balance.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Present-day Michigan is the ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi, Anishinaabe peoples forming the historic Council of Three Fires alliance, with the Indigenous presence pre-dating European settlements by more than 10,000 years.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
-
While collective structure and movements are really important for Perez’s teams, his players must actively think about each decision on the pitch, not just robotically follow instructions from the coaching staff.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Winning the lottery is supposed to fix all of your problems, but there are some debts that are too great for the big ticket to cover.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Nov. 2025
-
However, a bigger ensemble cast might also be involved.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share