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 Iberian Peninsula sits on a boundary between two large tectonic plates that are being stressed by a variety of forces, and because of this, the peninsula is turning clockwise very slowly.
—
Devika Rao, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026
Alaska’s wealth of lakes can be attributed to a few factors, including erosion, tectonic processes, the thawing of permafrost, and volcanic and glacial activity.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
On Earth, tectonic faulting in the seafloor enables water to plunge kilometers down into the rock, and as fresh faults are opened up by shifting tectonic plates, new rock is exposed, maintaining the nutrient supply released into the ocean through hydrothermal vents.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
And while Americans’ overall ideological self-identification looks stable in the aggregate (37% very conservative/conservative, 34% moderate, 25% very liberal/liberal), a January 2025 Gallup poll shows that this steadiness hides tectonic tensions tugging beneath the surface.
—Robert T.f. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Devika Rao, TheWeek, 16 Jan. 2026
Alaska’s wealth of lakes can be attributed to a few factors, including erosion, tectonic processes, the thawing of permafrost, and volcanic and glacial activity.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
On Earth, tectonic faulting in the seafloor enables water to plunge kilometers down into the rock, and as fresh faults are opened up by shifting tectonic plates, new rock is exposed, maintaining the nutrient supply released into the ocean through hydrothermal vents.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
And while Americans’ overall ideological self-identification looks stable in the aggregate (37% very conservative/conservative, 34% moderate, 25% very liberal/liberal), a January 2025 Gallup poll shows that this steadiness hides tectonic tensions tugging beneath the surface.
—Robert T.f. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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At least five competing proposals have emerged from major coalitions, several of which have fractured in recent days as internal disputes deepened.—
JACQUELINE CHARLES MIAMI HERALD,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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This latest release coincides with a major celebration of his spiritual organization, the incarnation month of its second guru, Shah Satnam Singh.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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An Australian study of advanced brain images found significant alterations even among people who had already recovered from mild infections — a possible explanation for cognitive deficits that may persist for years.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The burial ground dates back to a significant time in English history, when regional kingdoms started to form and consolidate power.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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And while its facade may blend in with the rest of the city's historic stone architecture, the interiors tell a different story.—
Gisela Williams,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
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If Everett applied this level of discipline to a stadium proposal, Boston should apply at least the same standard to White Stadium — a venue proposed in the middle of a historic park, with no on-site parking and access through residential streets.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As for the ever important flame, a high-performance burner powered by bio-GPL produced from 100 percent renewable feedstocks by energy company ENI is at the core of the torch.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
6 Feb. 2026
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Its mass is the most important factor in determining both its lifetime and its fate, with other secondary factors, such as metallicity (or the fraction of heavy elements present within it), also playing a role.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As well as cheeky possums and young kestrels readying to make their first flight, this year’s gallery also includes images that ask bigger questions about the human impact on the planet.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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The last challenge is that the very faint objects that are both intrinsically small and are located at great distances present a big challenge to any observatory that has to contend with Earth’s atmosphere.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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