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.

At Wembley, her opener was crucial, coming after Brighton had dominated the first 30 minutes and with City struggling to get a foothold.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

That’s already making a crucial North American expansion more difficult than expected.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

"Understanding these patterns may reveal crucial insights for studying cooperation, social learning, and emotional well-being in both humans and other animals."

From Science Daily • May 31, 2026

Years into the AI rally, it’s more crucial than ever.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Usually, linguistic change is a crucial marker of a modification in the way in which people think—it both facilitates that change and makes it easier for us to recognize it.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Vocabulary lists containing crucial

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