as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pivotal
Now, humanity stands at a pivotal juncture as the laborious, expensive and high-stakes process of attempting to convert such grand visions into reality is actually underway.
—
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
The production also takes good visual advantage of its many scenic Ontario, Canada, locations, especially a sweeping pivotal sequence that’s shot on the SkyBridge, which holds the record as the longest pedestrian bridge in North America.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
Having multiple starter-caliber players at that position is pivotal over the course of a college football season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The vote marked a pivotal moment in Missouri, potentially altering the political makeup of Kansas City for years.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
The production also takes good visual advantage of its many scenic Ontario, Canada, locations, especially a sweeping pivotal sequence that’s shot on the SkyBridge, which holds the record as the longest pedestrian bridge in North America.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
Having multiple starter-caliber players at that position is pivotal over the course of a college football season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The vote marked a pivotal moment in Missouri, potentially altering the political makeup of Kansas City for years.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
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The character's scientific background becomes crucial to the investigation.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Windshield wipers are a crucial yet often overlooked part of a vehicle.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The weather in New York might still be in flip-flop territory, yet many show-goers were impatient to get a step ahead of fall’s key trends, with just as many boots as sandals lining the front row.—
Emma Spedding,
Vogue,
19 Sep. 2025
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The Brenner Base Tunnel, which will be the longest underground rail tunnel in the world when completed, is among four key infrastructure projects that promise to reshape how Italians travel and ship goods by the early 2030s, while bringing Europe closer together.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Xi Jinping has remarked that relying on foreign supply of critical technologies—like semiconductors—is tantamount to building one's house on someone else's foundation.—
Joel Thayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Bynum made a diving catch that extinguished a critical drive for the Broncos.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These short stories about scientists working at the leading edge of climate microbiology reveal the vital role microbes play in our biosphere and climate system, and illuminate new possibilities for collaborating with these incredible natural chemists.—
Katherine Bourzac,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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The traditional playbook of financial engineering and operational efficiency, while still vital, is no longer sufficient.—
Cristian Paun,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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