as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect
a tectonic shift in societal trends occurred in the 1960s
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 tectonic
Reagan amid the tumult and tectonic fracturing of the 1960s Civil Rights and Free Speech movements.
—
Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The temperature and pressure of the magma reservoir, the weakness of the enclosing rock, the gas and crystal content, the depth of the magma, the regional motion of tectonic plates — these factors all contribute to whether a paroxysm happens or fizzles out.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
Landslides are common in the coastal mountains of Alaska where rapid uplift, caused by tectonic forces and long-term ice loss, converges with the erosive forces of precipitation and moving glaciers.
—Ezgi Karasözen, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
And that tectonic movement didn’t push them straight up, but tilted them just a few degrees.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The temperature and pressure of the magma reservoir, the weakness of the enclosing rock, the gas and crystal content, the depth of the magma, the regional motion of tectonic plates — these factors all contribute to whether a paroxysm happens or fizzles out.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
Landslides are common in the coastal mountains of Alaska where rapid uplift, caused by tectonic forces and long-term ice loss, converges with the erosive forces of precipitation and moving glaciers.
—Ezgi Karasözen, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
And that tectonic movement didn’t push them straight up, but tilted them just a few degrees.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
-
The Jaguars will play at Camping World Stadium in Orlando in 2027 while their home field, EverBank Stadium, undergoes major renovations.—
Scott Turick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
James Ward During the debate, Republican Steve Hilton vowed to restart offshore oil drilling in California — a proposal that conflicts with decades of state policy shaped by major oil spills and strict coastal protections.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Indeed, the tapping of an individual button is perhaps the least significant event on the planet, shifting nothing apart from the dust beneath it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Although prices have since pulled back somewhat, prices in Europe, the United States, and Singapore remain well above pre-conflict levels, and cost pressures on the aviation industry remain significant.—
,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
This historic settlement reflects an institutional and fundamental cultural shift away from radical ‘gender’ ideology.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Not only is Benyamin’s graduation historic for the university, but his educational accomplishments are rare.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
The promises made and attacks scattered like buckshot on the San Francisco soundstage all seem much less important than the numbers that show up in opinion polls between now and Election Day.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
This is especially important for low-income communities and others who rely heavily on the shot for contraception.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Baha Mar, the three-resort complex in Nassau, the Bahamas that opened in stages in 2017/2018 (beginning with the Grand Hyatt and now complete with Rosewood)makes repeat beach weekends actually easy to pull off which is the biggest draw.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
-
Remaking the world is also a big part of the writer’s job.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
