Synonym Chooser

How does the noun importance differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of importance are consequence, moment, significance, and weight. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

When can consequence be used instead of importance?

The words consequence and importance can be used in similar contexts, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

In what contexts can moment take the place of importance?

The words moment and importance are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

When would significance be a good substitute for importance?

While the synonyms significance and importance are close in meaning, significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

When is weight a more appropriate choice than importance?

The synonyms weight and importance are sometimes interchangeable, but weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

Examples of importance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Philanthropists, artists, activists and designers turned up at the event venue 583 Park Avenue for the event, which magnified the importance of global unity to seek peace and uplift impoverished people. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 25 Sep. 2024 Americans also agree on the importance of diversity. Erica Pandey, Axios, 24 Sep. 2024 At successful digital/AI companies, on the other hand, business and technology teams are seen as equal in importance. Rodney Zimmel, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2024 Both Morgan and Coleman have emphasized the importance of their roles beyond the football field. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for importance 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'importance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near importance

Cite this Entry

“Importance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/importance. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on importance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!