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 country sits on top of where the Arabian tectonic plate is smashing into the Eurasian plate.
—
Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026
The French phenom leaped to second place in FanDuel’s odds Tuesday — another sign of the tectonic shift caused by Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-winner.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Like a lot of fine arts institutions, the Met has been struggling with graying audiences and tectonic shifts in popular tastes.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The first one is really looking at tectonic plates, or fault lines, volcanoes, and underwater phenomenon that really intersect with how drilling, energy extraction, or military testing really converge in this sort of industrial ambition.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026
The French phenom leaped to second place in FanDuel’s odds Tuesday — another sign of the tectonic shift caused by Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-winner.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Like a lot of fine arts institutions, the Met has been struggling with graying audiences and tectonic shifts in popular tastes.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The first one is really looking at tectonic plates, or fault lines, volcanoes, and underwater phenomenon that really intersect with how drilling, energy extraction, or military testing really converge in this sort of industrial ambition.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
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Being honest with yourself before making major purchases should protect your long-term stability.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Robots learn faster The GAE model marks a significant step forward in motion intelligence for humanoid and service robots, enabling machines to learn physical tasks more naturally and efficiently.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
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For many in South Florida, the possibility of compensation remains uncertain — with major questions lingering over eligibility, funding, and whether any agreement would require significant political concessions.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The historic building was built in 1904.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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But Friday’s matchup brought back memories from last season’s first-round playoff series between the two teams that ended in historic humilation for the Heat.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Shah’s Western orientation extended to culture, and a wide range of artistically important international films could be seen in Tehran, in time including those of the French New Wave.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Past wars have not been dictated by the operating hours of the NYSE, but in this presidential worldview, there is no more important constraint.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That's one of the biggest concerns for individuals who live in this area.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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The rooms The rooms can best be described as minimalist but memorable, with a big emphasis on mood lighting, earth-toned velvet furniture, and photo-worthy vanity areas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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