Definitions

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.

Crucial electrical equipment is also in short supply.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

Crucial “Scream 7” narrative details began circulating as far back as late 2025.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

Micron, owner of the Crucial brand sold in many online and high street shops, recently announced it was ceasing its consumer business to focus on demand from AI companies.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

To ease its shortage, Micron has gone so far as to shutter its long-lived consumer business, Crucial.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

Crucial meeting of the atomic age, September 22, 1941.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Vocabulary lists containing crucial

List 1

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