1
as in energetic
having active strength of body or mind
a man who remained vital well into his 90s
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in active
having much high-spirited energy and movement
the child is vital and active again after being sick
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in essential
impossible to do without
I forgot one vital ingredient, and now the biscuits taste strange
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
received a vital wound in the abdomen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
a matter that is vital to our national security
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in refreshing
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind
after the long, dreary winter, we welcomed the vital rays of the summer sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vital
The announcement failed to immediately calm oil prices, which have spiraled since Tehran effectively closed the vital Strait of Hormuz oil chokepoint and began attacking energy facilities across neighboring Gulf countries.
—
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
One of my strongest convictions, prior to capitulating to Coffee Meets Bagel and Tinder, was that the means by which a couple met constituted a vital component of their love story.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
On the seafloor, the nodules are vital habitat, part of a fragile ecosystem of marine species that are adapted to the dark, cold environment.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
That footage would become vital to the documentary.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vital
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
One of my strongest convictions, prior to capitulating to Coffee Meets Bagel and Tinder, was that the means by which a couple met constituted a vital component of their love story.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
On the seafloor, the nodules are vital habitat, part of a fragile ecosystem of marine species that are adapted to the dark, cold environment.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
That footage would become vital to the documentary.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vital
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vital
Adjective
-
Buffey is described as an energetic and dedicated special education teacher who brings enthusiasm and creativity to every lesson.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The deployment of Lewis O’Brien and Ollie Rathbone, playing as an energetic pair of No 10s behind the equally-mobile Sam Smith up front suited this intent wonderfully.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Iraq in 2003 had 25 million people, a military degraded by 12 years of sanctions, and no active nuclear program.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Twins now have 49 active players in camp.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The gift was designated to further advance and highlight essential and high-level glioblastoma research at UC San Diego, in addition to inspiring others to follow suit and ultimately contribute to this critical and developing area of medical research.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Leucovorin is a synthetic metabolite of folate, which is essential for healthy pregnancies and is recommended for women before conception and during pregnancy.—
MATTHEW PERRONE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Boyd could not characterize the size of the knife or say whether officers had attempted less-lethal options before opening fire, though they are trained to do so depending on the incident.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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Lambda-cyhalothrin, which starves insects and is lethal to honeybees, was found on cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, lettuce and broccoli.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Oil revenue is crucial for Moscow's war effort.—
HANNA ARHIROVA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
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That’s where Willard’s assistant, Dan McKinney, and the Mets’ vice president for pitching, Eric Jagers, will be crucial.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Senior Homes Editor Betsy Watson's grandmother always had a batch of this cool and refreshing salad chilling in the fridge for guests.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Even all-white sneakers with silver accents can inject a refreshing hint of modernity.—
Amber Rambharose,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The 2026 edition will spotlight the Bay Area’s dynamic ecosystem, where championship franchises, emerging women’s sports properties, global events leadership and institutional capital intersect.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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But then you guys came along and created another dynamic duo in Kathryn and Samara.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Locals consistently rave about FIG and Leon’s Oyster Shop, though wandering around aimlessly—especially on the city’s lively King Street—is part of the fun, too.—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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Anecdotally, schools with bell-to-bell bans report livelier lunchtime conversations, and some research suggests that time and distance are critical for counteracting phones’ addictive tendencies.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vital.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vital. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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