PIVOTAL Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

pivotal

adjective

ˈpi-və-tᵊl

Definition of pivotal

as in crucial

of the greatest possible importance the report was missing a pivotal piece of information

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of pivotal Tonight, the guy who has been most reliable, Chris Sale, is taking the mound for the Braves in this pivotal game. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 The order also comes at a potentially pivotal moment for Harbinger, which is considering an IPO, according to a May report from Axios. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 Atlanta hoped giving Sale extra rest would be a winning formula in the pivotal third game. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 For the pivotal evening, Lowen forgoes her woodsy natural look and returns to her big-city smoky eyes and a sultry dark lip (a mix of Dior Addict Lip Glow Balms in Mahogany and Blackberry). — Fawnia Soo Hoo, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pivotal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pivotal

Adjective

But anyone who’s yet to see the earlier series need not fret; while Seven Havens makes reference especially to Korra, any crucial details are reestablished within a narrative that’s set nearly two centuries later and stands largely on its own.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
While Saudi Arabia has considerable military capabilities, experience in Yemen, and powerful allies like Pakistan and Türkiye, active US backing remains crucial, both strategically and politically.

— Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of crucial

Adjective

Until today, human scientists have been the agents responsible for discovering cancer cures, and for doing so they (and key associates) have been showered with academic credit and awards, perhaps even a Nobel Prize.

— Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
That was key because earlier in the game, receiver Rashee Rice suffered a hamstring injury and didn’t return to action after the first quarter.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of key

Adjective

The neighborhood The hotel's historical ties to Waverley Station—a hub for those coming and going from Edinburgh—make this hotel a vital part of Princes Street, the high street of the Scottish capital.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Still, this feud feels like the future, like something vital and ongoing that is going to give us years of drama.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of vital

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pivot

pivotal

pivoted

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“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pivotal. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pivotal

adjective

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