VITAL Synonyms: 335 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'vital' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of vital are cardinal , essential , and fundamental . While all these words mean "so important as to be indispensable," vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation. // cut off from vital supplies

Q: When might 'cardinal' be a better fit than 'vital'?

In some situations, the words cardinal and vital are roughly equivalent. However, cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends. // a cardinal rule in buying a home

Q: When can 'essential' be used instead of 'vital'?

While the synonyms essential and vital are close in meaning, essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character. // conflict is essential in drama

Q: Where would 'fundamental' be a reasonable alternative to 'vital'?

While in some cases nearly identical to vital , fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse. // fundamental principles of algebra

vital

adjective

ˈvī-tᵊl

Definition of vital next

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

as in active

having much high-spirited energy and movement the child is vital and active again after being sick

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in essential

impossible to do without I forgot one vital ingredient, and now the biscuits taste strange

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lethal

likely to cause or capable of causing death received a vital wound in the abdomen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in crucial

of the greatest possible importance a matter that is vital to our national security

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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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vital different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of vital are cardinal, essential, and fundamental. While all these words mean "so important as to be indispensable," vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation.

cut off from vital supplies

When might cardinal be a better fit than vital?

In some situations, the words cardinal and vital are roughly equivalent. However, cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends.

a cardinal rule in buying a home

When can essential be used instead of vital?

While the synonyms essential and vital are close in meaning, essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

conflict is essential in drama

Where would fundamental be a reasonable alternative to vital?

While in some cases nearly identical to vital, fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse.

fundamental principles of algebra

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 vital This shared extremist and imperialist enemy made Azerbaijan and Israel strategic partners, with Azerbaijan invaluable for Israel’s energy portfolio and Israeli military equipment vital for Azerbaijan’s security. —

Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 People who took liraglutide, an older GLP-1 drug, saw nearly 50% less shrinking in parts of the brain that are vital for memory, learning, language, and decision-making over a year.3 Additionally, cognitive decline was 18% slower in the liraglutide group than in the placebo group, on average. —

Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 23 Jan. 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio will depart on his first foreign trip next week to visit countries in Central America and the Caribbean whose cooperation may be vital for carrying out the Trump administration's mass deportation plans, the State Department said on Thursday. —

Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2025 These improvements are vital for cooling, which allows for sustained performance. —

Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for vital

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vital

Adjective

For such an energetic and vertical player, runs like that one should net him many more.

— George Caulkin, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
This fresh and energetic horror movie makes a notable new addition to Soderbergh's storied filmography.

— EW Staff, EW.com, 25 Jan. 2025