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
The arrival of the drone shows marks what could eventually be a pivotal change in SeaWorld’s long history of nightly fireworks, which have become increasingly controversial as environmentalists worry about their effect on the environment and surrounding wildlife.
—
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Navarro, who leads MLS in goal contributions (11), was a massive part of that run and has become a pivotal part of this one.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
Studying in West Germany in 1958, Baselitz had a pivotal encounter with Abstract Expressionism when the Museum of Modern Art’s survey of Jackson Pollock traveled to the Hochschule.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors are tied at two games apiece, with a pivotal Game 5 looming on Wednesday.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Navarro, who leads MLS in goal contributions (11), was a massive part of that run and has become a pivotal part of this one.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
Studying in West Germany in 1958, Baselitz had a pivotal encounter with Abstract Expressionism when the Museum of Modern Art’s survey of Jackson Pollock traveled to the Hochschule.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors are tied at two games apiece, with a pivotal Game 5 looming on Wednesday.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pivotal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal
Adjective
-
Attenborough matters because, for generations of TV viewers, in scores of countries, he has been regarded as the person who best understands one crucial purpose of the medium—who has made the most fruitful use of what television, uniquely, can be for.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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Arsenal are firmly in title-chasing mode and goal difference could still prove crucial, despite Manchester City slipping up against Everton on Monday.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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The Supreme Court on May 4 allowed its recent ruling limiting a key part of the Voting Rights Act to take effect early, boosting the chances that Republicans can impose a new congressional map in Louisiana before the November election.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
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In Arizona, the state’s attorney general is appealing a ruling requiring the criminal case to be returned to a grand jury because prosecutors did not present key legal text.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Three residents died at the scene, while five more were hospitalized with critical injuries, FDNY officials said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
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As Mercury squares Pluto, feedback or a conversation may feel more intense or critical than expected.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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Local leadership is vital in shaping successful initiatives as external capital and technical expertise can support development, but local stakeholders drive execution and sustainability.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
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Back at the Elias-Clarke building, Runway’s intrepid leader Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and her deputy Nigel (Stanley Tucci) fight to keep their once-vital, but now diminishing, print product alive in the digital age.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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