as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect
a tectonic shift in societal trends occurred in the 1960s
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tectonic
Over millions of years, tectonic plate collisions, volcanic activity and dramatic sea-level fluctuations have continually reshaped the landscape.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Countries around the Caribbean Sea are vulnerable to major earthquakes because of the tectonic plates in the region.
—
Annette Choi,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Paralleling this fiery drama is a slower accretion of changes to the city’s fabric, which convey an almost tectonic sense of time’s passage.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
The authority’s educational program coordinator will lead a Zoom session about the state rock serpentinite and the tectonic forces that have shaped California’s landscape.
—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Countries around the Caribbean Sea are vulnerable to major earthquakes because of the tectonic plates in the region.
—
Annette Choi,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Paralleling this fiery drama is a slower accretion of changes to the city’s fabric, which convey an almost tectonic sense of time’s passage.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
The authority’s educational program coordinator will lead a Zoom session about the state rock serpentinite and the tectonic forces that have shaped California’s landscape.
—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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In the footage, three children appear to be emerging from the rubble one after another, seemingly without major injuries, as rescuers provided assistance.
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The announcement came just hours after the Supreme Court handed a major victory to the makers of the weedkiller Roundup, shielding it from thousands of lawsuits from states alleging the company failed to warn people the product could cause cancer.
Adjective
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The heatwave has been significant enough to prompt major fashion houses to accommodate last-minute schedule changes.
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Damaged coating can cause significant problems, leading to violations of ecological regulations and insurers’ biofoul clauses.
Adjective
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A lot of the journey has been on foot, but sometimes Cohen uses other forms of transportation, including a train to upstate New York that closely follows the historic route.
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Yoshiharu Hoshino, the chief executive of Hoshino Resorts, has argued that historic buildings deserve a future beyond pure redevelopment.
Adjective
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To address those concerns, Hulls has committed roughly $15 million to establish the Good Luck Fund, which acquires and preserves properties considered important to the community.
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What are the most important values of the community that the superintendent must honor regardless of pressure or politics?
Adjective
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The collaboration pairs one of the most recognizable music artists of the last decade with a menu item designed to bring back familiar memories from Fetty Wap’s biggest era, while also celebrating his influence on pop culture and music.
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That quiet recovery is a big reason the procedure has moved from a private secret to something people openly mention.
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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