as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pivotal
Willard cited as pivotal a 3-pointer from Miguel that sliced a six-point deficit in half after a 9-0 run by Wisconsin early in the second half and a 3-pointer by sophomore shooting guard DeShawn Harris-Smith that ignited an 11-0 burst midway through the period.
—
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2025
This pivotal period—when all that hydrogen went from one form to another—is known as the epoch of reionization.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 30 Jan. 2025
Properly viewed, Angelou must be understood as a pivotal figure of the anti-rape movement.
—TIME, 28 Jan. 2025
We’re influenced by ‘Daria’ — if you’re born of a certain generation, that’s a pivotal reference, a crucial reference.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pivotal 
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2025
This pivotal period—when all that hydrogen went from one form to another—is known as the epoch of reionization.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 30 Jan. 2025
Properly viewed, Angelou must be understood as a pivotal figure of the anti-rape movement.
—TIME, 28 Jan. 2025
We’re influenced by ‘Daria’ — if you’re born of a certain generation, that’s a pivotal reference, a crucial reference.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
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For product leaders, the implications are clear: The future belongs to platforms that can turn those crucial first moments from an awkward introduction into the beginning of a valuable relationship.—
Kalyan Garimella,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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The vapor chamber cooling system is larger on all three—a crucial component to keep the phones from getting too hot during intense gaming sessions—with the chamber in the S25 Ultra getting a 40 percent size bump.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In an interview in late 2023, Wilson told Forbes his key focus was on Amer, whose sales are predicted to surpass $5.1 billion in 2024, up from $4.4 billion in 2023 and $2.5 billion in 2021.—
Jemima McEvoy,
Forbes,
25 Jan. 2025
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Optical connectivity is emerging as a key enabler, and at the forefront of this transformation is Teramount: An Israeli startup co-founded by Dr. Hesham Taha and Dr. Avi Israel.—
Kyle J. Russell,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The wide-ranging effects of the USAID spending freeze spanning different sectors highlight how critical the funds are to the region.—
Aurel Obreja,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2025
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The pilots were found to have violated federal regulations that require them to minimize conversation at critical moments of the flight, among other issues.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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His floor-spacing (42.2 percent from 3 since December) is vital for a bad shooting team.—
Kelly Iko,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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Government policies and tax credits are vital for making solar more accessible for low-income households.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pivotal
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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