as in essential
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Recent Examples of instrumental
As chairman of the University of Central Florida’s Board of Trustees, Martins was instrumental in helping guide UCF into the Big 12 — a move that elevated the university’s national profile and changed the trajectory of UCF athletics and the university as a whole.
—
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Sean — Dell was instrumental in bringing computers to a wider audience by pioneering the direct-to-consumer model in the 1980s and 90s, offering custom built PCs.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
The moving instrumental version of the lead single from the enigmatic Ocean’s 2012 debut solo album, Channel Orange, was transformed in Flea’s hands into what sounded like a lost relic from the 1940s jazz age, performed with a style and grace that breathed new life into the track.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
The support of Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and the Common Council has been instrumental in plans for the new shelter, Cannon said, adding that a new facility is one of Melton’s priorities in office.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Sean — Dell was instrumental in bringing computers to a wider audience by pioneering the direct-to-consumer model in the 1980s and 90s, offering custom built PCs.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
The moving instrumental version of the lead single from the enigmatic Ocean’s 2012 debut solo album, Channel Orange, was transformed in Flea’s hands into what sounded like a lost relic from the 1940s jazz age, performed with a style and grace that breathed new life into the track.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
The support of Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and the Common Council has been instrumental in plans for the new shelter, Cannon said, adding that a new facility is one of Melton’s priorities in office.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instrumental
Adjective
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City leaders, however, maintain that the changes threaten jobs and essential services in communities that have depended on card rooms for decades.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Resistance is likely to be strongest among European governments, still shocked by Beijing’s threats last year to cut off supplies of rare earths — essential for clean tech — and worried about further hollowing out their own green industries.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In this regard, a fundamental reorientation toward grassroots and community-based partnerships is critical, building institutional capacity from the ground up rather than top-down.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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This key milestone, overseen by the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the Environment Agency, and Natural Resources Wales, provides formal validation that there are no fundamental safety, security, or safeguards flaws in the SMR-300 design.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Pluto is in your supportive 4th house, guiding conversations with housemates or relatives about necessary shifts.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
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What actions are necessary during a red flag warning?—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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On the night Illinois lost to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament, coach Brad Underwood lamented that his team didn’t show the requisite toughness to advance beyond the quarterfinal.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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Still, the plot, involving Morty’s relationship with a new character, a time warrior named Elle, along with the requisite alternative versions of Rick, is very densely knotted without the benefit of any jokes.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Island-wide blackouts have roiled Cubans already grappling with years of crisis, and lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospitals and slashed public transport.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Island-wide blackouts have roiled Cubans already grappling with years of crisis, and lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospital and slashed public transport.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Bakri is responsible for many soul-shattering moments in Cherien Dabis’s exemplary multigenerational epic All That’s Left of You (now on digital), and the first takes place after an elementary-school lesson.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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Students in elementary grades would be taught not to touch a found firearm, to leave the area and to tell an adult.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Misato Morita is also back as Kaori Makimura, Ryo’s indispensable partner, while Fumino Kimura returns as the quick-witted detective Saeko Nogami.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
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Russia will aim “to position itself as an indispensable supplier that saved the world from starvationâ€� through its fertilizer exports, a Carnegie fellow argued.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instrumental. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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