crucial

[kroo-shuhl] / ˈkru ʃəl /

ADJECTIVE

critical, important

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bottom-line central compelling deciding decisive essential imperative momentous necessary pivotal pressing touchy urgent vital

WEAK

acute clamorous climactic desperate dire hanging by thread high-priority insistent on thin ice searching showdown touch and go

Antonyms

STRONGEST

inessential insignificant minor optional secondary trivial unimportant unnecessary voluntary

WEAK

uncritical

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.

This highlights how crucial these protective structures are for enduring extreme environments.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

It is crucial that you speak with a real person who can support you right now.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Step forward Ngumoha to provide it - and to leave Liverpool's supporters who were thrilled by his performance posing a crucial question.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Andy Pages went three for three with four RBIs and had a go-ahead two-run double and a two-run home run to provide crucial insurance that kept his club in the game.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

Food wasn’t crucial yet, since they had just eaten and he still had the two smashed sandwiches that were meant to be his parents’ lunch.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Vocabulary lists containing crucial

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