1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
maintains that Sir Isaac Newton remains the key figure in physical science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
first—and this is key—I wasn't even there that evening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in gateway
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal
a good education is the key to success
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in access
the means or right of entering or participating in
he had found the key to her heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to reconcile
to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences
her response was perfectly keyed to the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of key
Poornima Debolle, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Those behind the bill, however, say the reimbursement provisions are key.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Toni Pisano, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
The side pockets are deep enough to hold your wallet and phone, while the discreet zippered pocket at the back is perfect for keys or credit cards.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2025
Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
Trump meanwhile keyed into the emotions of Americans who saw the prices of eggs, gas, food and car insurance skyrocketing.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Adjective
Both of these outcomes can pose serious threats to the business, especially in the event of a major tech outage when resilience is key.
—Poornima Debolle, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Those behind the bill, however, say the reimbursement provisions are key.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Noun
The key is for business leaders to look beyond the buzzwords and the alphabet soup of model types to realize the use cases of AI.
—Toni Pisano, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
The side pockets are deep enough to hold your wallet and phone, while the discreet zippered pocket at the back is perfect for keys or credit cards.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
Police said three Tesla owners reported someone had keyed their cars while parked in the plaza.
—Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
Trump meanwhile keyed into the emotions of Americans who saw the prices of eggs, gas, food and car insurance skyrocketing.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
Adjective
-
This means cruise visitors will need to rely on shuttle buses, taxis, or sightseeing tours to reach the city’s main attractions.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
-
Today, the city’s main protection against high tides is the MOSE set of flood barriers that rises from the seabed to cut off the lagoon from the Adriatic during exceptionally high tides.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
Adjective
-
Comments Traveling in a comfortable airport outfit is crucial, especially for long flights.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2025
-
These include India’s suspension of a crucial water-sharing treaty, the withdrawal of envoys, and visa restrictions.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes $19 $10 at Amazon From tray tables to hotel remotes, travel surfaces aren’t always the cleanest.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2025
-
Woody Allen, Anna Wintour, Nancy Pelosi, Salman Rushdie and Kim Kardashian all call for a table on a busy night.—
Julian Sancton,
HollywoodReporter,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Henry's Lake is about 17 miles from West Yellowstone, Montana, which is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
2 May 2025
-
In this future, wallets may replace brokerage accounts as the primary gateway to wealth creation.—
Azeem Khan,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
Companies that adopt water-efficient technologies early will be better positioned to comply with regulations, maintain credibility with consumers, and secure access to reliable, resilient supply chains.—
Ken Katz,
Sourcing Journal,
5 May 2025
-
American Express cardholders will have access to an Amex pre-sale for the North American show beginning Wednesday (May 7) at 10 a.m. local time here.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
Verb
-
In order to oust Najib, Mahathir reconciled with Anwar, who was freed thanks to a royal pardon.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
2 May 2025
-
Two tracks for the House, Senate The budget blueprint passed earlier this month instructs the House and Senate to craft separate proposals that will eventually need to be reconciled.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Arriving first responders conducted a primary assessment of the scene and learned that two people were trapped in a Toyota Corolla, officials said.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
13 May 2025
-
It's led by a 200-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide, with a 12-megapixel selfie camera.—
Julian Chokkattu,
Wired News,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
Founded by Frank Fertitta IV and Landon Gyulay, the Easy Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) grant-making nonprofit committed to helping Veterans transition to civilian life by addressing critical needs including mental health care, job training, placement, and family support services.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
5 May 2025
-
Want to stay up to date on IndieWire’s film reviews and critical thoughts?—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
4 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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