as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 ground zero
Today, Cicero remains ground zero as the most vulnerable town in Illinois during immigration raids.
—
Esteban Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Trump officials have designated Chicago as ground zero for deportations.
—Axios, 23 Jan. 2025
Incinerated communities California is America’s wildfire ground zero.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
On February 2, 2017, UC Berkeley became ground zero when provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos’ speech was protested- these violent protests were only the tip of the iceberg in a rapid shift in norms on college campuses.
—Manu Meel, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ground zero 
Esteban Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Trump officials have designated Chicago as ground zero for deportations.
—Axios, 23 Jan. 2025
Incinerated communities California is America’s wildfire ground zero.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
On February 2, 2017, UC Berkeley became ground zero when provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos’ speech was protested- these violent protests were only the tip of the iceberg in a rapid shift in norms on college campuses.
—Manu Meel, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ground zero
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground zero
Noun
-
With Mark Williams sent back to the Charlotte Hornets over the weekend following the rescinding of the trade to the Los Angeles Lakers for Dalton Knecht, and Nurkic yet to speak to the media after being dealt from Phoenix, some are wondering what’s going on with the Bosnian center.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2025
-
There was so much clothing donated that donation centers started turning away offers.—
Kristin Deasy,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Commissioned by the Kosovo authorities for the country's capital Pristina, the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Kosovo is being created in collaboration with local studio ALB-Architect and will measure 42,395 sq m (456,403 sq ft).—
Adam Williams,
New Atlas,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Some state capitals boast incredible job markets, high average salaries, world-class universities, and an abundance of attractions.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, is one of India's largest cities and a major cultural and economic hub.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
-
Tariffs and trade too The three-day Munich conference was a hub of crisscrossing diplomacy on issues of politics, economics, and defense and security, with top envoys on hand from places as diverse as Syria and Saudi Arabia, and Japan and South Korea, as well as many European leaders.—
Emma Burrows,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But how did stars such as A$AP Rocky and Pharrell stumble upon the store, especially given Tokyo is a mecca for vintage?—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Gunnison’s Hartman Rocks, one of the state’s most iconic mountain biking areas, is also a mecca for winter pedaling.—
Shauna Farnell,
The Denver Post,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Keeping the focus on historically underserved communities in the mortgage market is an apt way to observe Black History Month, Neal thinks.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
-
According to Sharpe, the focus for this pivotal 2025 season for Steffen and the club, especially with a 2026 World Cup roster spot on the line, is to find more consistency.—
Braidon Nourse,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The smell of bleach triggers memories of cleaning up the blood that was all over the tarmac of the base.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
TIME,
10 Feb. 2025
-
As my friend in Los Angeles can attest, its overreach has alienated a broad swath of Americans, including many who wouldn’t typically align with Trump’s base.—
Matt K. Lewis,
Twin Cities,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
That’s the hope with a strong nucleus returning and some strong underclassman to help them out.—
Todd Abeln,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Anhedonia is associated with higher functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and paraventricular nucleus of thalamus Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Wine finishes can go quickly overboard, leaving the whiskey with an abundance of big, fruity, tannic notes that overpower its core identity.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
16 Feb. 2025
-
As downtown continues to navigate the post-pandemic era and stakeholders reimagine what an urban core can and should be, new projects are helping build that future.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
16 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ground zero
Cite this Entry
“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20zero. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share