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
But Gordon is looking more and more like the most pivotal piece to the Nuggets’ title puzzle, especially on defense.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
The film’s narrative is built from stories Yo told me about her past – epic tales spanning eight decades and three continents, inviting us into her detailed memories and pivotal moments of transformation.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Connecticut is at a pivotal moment.
—Waleed Albakry, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
This year, the TIME100 Health—the people most influential in the world of health right now—are more pivotal than ever.
—Time Staff, Time, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
The film’s narrative is built from stories Yo told me about her past – epic tales spanning eight decades and three continents, inviting us into her detailed memories and pivotal moments of transformation.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Connecticut is at a pivotal moment.
—Waleed Albakry, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
This year, the TIME100 Health—the people most influential in the world of health right now—are more pivotal than ever.
—Time Staff, Time, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
-
Trump supported Milei’s fiscal program last year with a $20-billion credit line that succeeded in calming markets and boosting Milei’s prospects in a crucial midterm election in October.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
While Singh’s lawyer Jitender Khurana denies any political motive for his client’s paroles, his previous releases coincided with crucial state elections, fueling speculation that his freedom is a reward for the Dera’s electoral support.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Many ideas that were rejected in the past receive new life upon a surprising new observation; many ideas that are accepted today will be overthrown when a key experimental result demonstrates its insufficiency.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
-
One of the key responsibilities Warren taught his pupils was how to show restraint, according to Knox.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The film received strong critical acclaim upon its release, holding a 95% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Some 25 million people viewed the spot, by the way, but only 15 commented on it, and most were critical.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Time lines in such cases are vital, and this one was stretching out.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
So basically, protein is more vital right now than ever — supporting bone health, mood, muscles, and exercise recovery.—
Rita Templeton,
Flow Space,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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