all-important

[awl-im-pawr-tnt] / ˈɔl ɪmˈpɔr tnt /

ADJECTIVE

critical

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crucial dangerous decisive dire integral perilous pivotal precarious risky serious significant strategic urgent vital

WEAK

acute bottom-line climacteric conclusive consequential deciding desperate determinative exceptive grave hairy hazardous high-priority momentous pressing weighty

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain inessential minor safe secure sure trivial unimportant unnecessary

WEAK

complimentary laudatory praising uncritical

ADJECTIVE

life-and-death

Synonyms

WEAK

consequential critical crucial determining earth-shaking earth-shattering essential imperative important indispensable life-or-death meaningful of vital importance paramount pivotal serious significant urgent vital vitally important

ADJECTIVE

necessary

Synonyms

STRONGEST

basic crucial decisive essential fundamental imperative indispensable mandatory needed paramount required significant unavoidable urgent vital

STRONG

binding cardinal chief expedient prerequisite pressing prime principal requisite

WEAK

bottom-line compelling compulsory de rigueur elementary exigent incumbent on momentous must-have name of game needful obligatory quintessential specified wanted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

additional extra inessential minor nonessential optional secondary trivial unimportant unnecessary voluntary

STRONG

insignificant

WEAK

contingent needless useless

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The idea is that the all-important shipping route for global energy supplies will remain effectively shut until the economic costs of its closure—including higher oil prices and accelerating inflation—start piling up.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

"Ten years ago, matchday was all-important. Today broadcast is all-important," he said.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Equities markets will be closed for the Good Friday holiday, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its all-important jobs report Friday, perhaps offering some diversion from Middle East headlines.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

After “Let ’Em In,” McCartney asked his band member Brian Ray to show off the song’s all-important bass line: a single note plucked over and over and over again.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

We are guided towards the all-important end of the phrase, called the ‘cadence’.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

all-important

Example Sentences

Related Words