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.

But a crucial difference between renewables and fossil fuels is that buyers only have to pay for a solar plant or wind turbine once.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Maintaining its stock listing is crucial for the company, as it provides a way to raise needed capital.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 12, 2026

Turnout will be a crucial factor after a lacklustre campaign hit by voter apathy.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

He felt that he couldn’t lie if asked a direct question, and yet if he simply refused to answer, the assumption was that he was hiding something crucial.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Vocabulary lists containing crucial

List 1

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