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
On Earth, corundum typically forms deep within the planet under specific geological conditions tied to tectonic activity.
—
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
There is no doubt that relegation for Spurs would be the biggest shift in the Premier League’s tectonic plates because many of their current fans were not alive when the club were last dumped out of the top flight.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The first-of-its-kind arrangement marks a tectonic shift for Florida’s largest school district, where charter schools have operated in their own facilities rather than district property.
—Garrett Shanley, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Commonly straits are formed by tectonic activity, such as a fracture in an isthmus.
—Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
There is no doubt that relegation for Spurs would be the biggest shift in the Premier League’s tectonic plates because many of their current fans were not alive when the club were last dumped out of the top flight.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The first-of-its-kind arrangement marks a tectonic shift for Florida’s largest school district, where charter schools have operated in their own facilities rather than district property.
—Garrett Shanley, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Commonly straits are formed by tectonic activity, such as a fracture in an isthmus.
—Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tectonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tectonic
Adjective
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Cloudflare executives added that the company is hoping to avoid further major layoffs.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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Even in the absence of major unemployment shocks, inequality will likely increase as returns to capital exponentially outstrip those to labor.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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The week the book was published, WGA members were voting to ratify a new contract that includes a bailout of the union’s ailing health fund and significant increases in health insurance costs.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
4 May 2026
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Trump and his backers lost dozens of lawsuits claiming fraud, and numerous recounts, reviews and audits of the election results turned up no signs of significant wrongdoing or error.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, contains historic butterfly gardens and flora native to the Florida Keys, Cuba and the Caribbean.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
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Set the scene In the heart of Center City, W Philadelphia adds a dash of style to the city’s historic landscape.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Purrazzo stressed how important giving back to military veterans was to her in an interview with Fox News Digital earlier this week, especially as a military wife.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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But while the headline figure of peak speed is a head-turner, the more important goal is high sustained speed.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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The big man, who won the 2016 NBA Championship as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, previously had his younger sibling under a guardianship, according to TMZ.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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The one big missing piece was seeing her team finally capture an elusive state championship.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tectonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tectonic. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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