as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect
a tectonic shift in societal trends occurred in the 1960s
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Recent Examples of tectonic
Its position on a subduction zone — where the Indo-Australia tectonic plate moves beneath the Pacific Plate — means earthquakes of greater than magnitude 6 are not uncommon and the country’s buildings are intended to withstand quakes.
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Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
The tectonic shift in the balance of power was apparent when Iran pulled its last diplomats out of Syria as the meeting in Doha wrapped up.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
This is just a small snapshot of the tectonic plates shifting at once:
AI arms race.
—Axios, 12 Dec. 2024
What feels more certain, though, is that the region is clearly showing the early signs of major, tectonic changes that are going to play out under a Trump administration.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tectonic 
Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
The tectonic shift in the balance of power was apparent when Iran pulled its last diplomats out of Syria as the meeting in Doha wrapped up.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
This is just a small snapshot of the tectonic plates shifting at once:
AI arms race.
—Axios, 12 Dec. 2024
What feels more certain, though, is that the region is clearly showing the early signs of major, tectonic changes that are going to play out under a Trump administration.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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The current mix of drought and ferocious winds have proved to be prime conditions for a major fire.Andrew Moseman, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
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Both of those franchises had a lot of other factors that contributed to their immediate turnaround: Washington changed everything from ownership on down and already had some talent on its roster; Denver coach Sean Payton and a strong defense were major factors in their move.Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In leadership, this truth is even more significant.Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
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The area is also home to several national parks and a section of legendary St. Olav’s Way, a historic pilgrimage trail considered the most significant pilgrimage site in the Nordics.Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Barkley was on pace to beat Dickerson’s historic mark, but Eagles coach Nick Sirianni held him out of their Week 18 game against the woeful Giants.Rob Reischel, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
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Many of the series' train arrivals, departures, and platform conversations were filmed at Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, a historic station — still running steam and diesel engines — with a vintage vibe that was a perfect fit for the show's era.Matt Cabral, EW.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Customizable options, such as adjustable waistbands will also be important.Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2025
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This process delays prosecutors who are racing against the clock, potentially jeopardizing important cases.Zellnor Myrie, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Cramer also highlighted big drops for health care stocks like Humana , HCA , Cigna and Centene .Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025
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Germany is also a manufacturing powerhouse, with a broad stable of big brand names including BMW, Mercedes, Adidas and Hugo Boss.Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 6 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tectonic
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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