SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
pivotal
adjective
Crucially important to the development or outcome of something.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Crucially important
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPivotal suggests that an outcome turns on the person, event, or decision. Influential and consequential do not necessarily imply such a central role.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See pivotal in use
The discovery of the missing letter was pivotal to the historian's argument.
The contribution was pivotal; without it, we would have failed.
1 more example
The source check was pivotal because one central quotation had been attributed incorrectly. After the writer corrected it, the editors could assess the essay on an accurate basis and explain their decision clearly.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license