as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect
a tectonic shift in societal trends occurred in the 1960s
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tectonic
The country sits on the edge of a giant east-west fault that is the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates.
—
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
Earthquakes are natural phenomena that typically happen at the boundaries of Earth’s tectonic plates.
—
Sylvain Barbot,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
Earthquakes are frequent along the Pacific coast, including in Mexico and Chile, which both sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, an area that the USGS said is responsible for 90% of earthquakes.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Over millions of years, tectonic plate collisions, volcanic activity and dramatic sea-level fluctuations have continually reshaped the landscape.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
Earthquakes are natural phenomena that typically happen at the boundaries of Earth’s tectonic plates.
—
Sylvain Barbot,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
Earthquakes are frequent along the Pacific coast, including in Mexico and Chile, which both sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, an area that the USGS said is responsible for 90% of earthquakes.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Over millions of years, tectonic plate collisions, volcanic activity and dramatic sea-level fluctuations have continually reshaped the landscape.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams.
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Some of these storms could be severe and deliver damaging wind gusts, but any thunderstorm will contain lightning — a major danger for any outdoor activities, especially for anyone trying to escape the heat in or on the water.
Adjective
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The heatwave has been significant enough to prompt major fashion houses to accommodate last-minute schedule changes.
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Damaged coating can cause significant problems, leading to violations of ecological regulations and insurers’ biofoul clauses.
Adjective
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The historic 1920s tower that once housed the beloved Ace Hotel is entering a new era just in time for the summer.
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As a potentially historic heat wave hits Philadelphia, many fans made cooling off their first priority during Wednesday's Phillies game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.
Adjective
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One interesting trend is that this tournament will feature some very good tight ends, a position that has become increasingly important in college football and the NFL but not so much in high school football in the era of spread offenses.
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As technology becomes more sophisticated and the number of living survivors continues to decline, preserving authentic testimony becomes even more important.
Adjective
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Meta, Oracle, Microsoft and other big tech companies have laid off tens of thousands of employees, while simultaneously investing billions in AI data centers.
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Also in attendance to celebrate the couple on their big day was Dunham's ex and Swift's longtime collaborator, Jack Antonoff, who was seen leaving for the event with his sister, Rachel Antonoff.
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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