1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
maintains that Sir Isaac Newton remains the key figure in physical science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance
first—and this is key—I wasn't even there that evening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in gateway
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal
a good education is the key to success
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in access
the means or right of entering or participating in
he had found the key to her heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to reconcile
to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences
her response was perfectly keyed to the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of key
Ahmed Rasheed, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Plans and ideas to strengthen the industry fostering innovation, improving labor conditions and strengthening trade relationships to maintain its competitive edge were key.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 7 Apr. 2025
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2025
The key is to clarify each of these—and be able to plan ahead.
—Tracy Brower, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2025
That gave an impetus to the hunt, and the Atlanta Constitution’s reward of $500 keyed the mob to the necessary burning and roasting pitch.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key
Adjective
The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, another key Iranian ally, has further weakened the Islamic Republic's influence.
—Noun
But the key is where the Brazilians were operating from.
—Verb
The forward from Richardson, Texas, keyed UConn’s comeback win over Villanova on Tuesday with 16 of his 20 points coming in the second half to go along with seven rebounds.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
Adjective
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As previously reported, this year’s main competition jury president will be Juliette Binoche, who will oversee the choosing of the Palme d’Or and other festival awards alongside a jury yet to be announced.—
-
The first drop pays homage to Jackson, Wyo., where Season 2 begins, after the two main characters found temporary refuge there in Season 1.—
Adjective
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According to sleep experts at Bed Kingdom, a comfortable sleep environment is crucial for quality sleep.—
-
The Key To Talking About Tariffs is Transparency During any business disruption or crisis, transparent communication is crucial for maintaining customer trust.—
Noun
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Parking spots out front will be converted into a patio for outdoor eating, with 40 tables.—
-
The chairs rock ever-so-slightly while still feeling secure, and the table has a sleek glass-top that’s heavy enough to stay put even in the elements.—
Noun
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The problem with this model was that attackers gained immediate, easy and trusted access to everything once the firewall, gateway or VPN server creating this perimeter was breached.—
-
At home, our Xfinity WiFi gateways and extenders create a fast, reliable, and secure connection in every corner of your home.—
Noun
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As a bonus for new members, the travel bundle also comes with three months of unlimited streaming access to Pvolve’s library of over 1,500 classes.—
-
Keep your access fully charged for just $2.50 $1 per month for one year.—
Verb
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After the family moved to California in the summer, Quaid filed for divorce from Buffington in November 2012 before the two reconciled again, dismissing the divorce in September 2013.—
-
While some researchers attempted to reconcile these differences by suggesting that Prototaxites might be a giant lichen (a symbiotic association between fungi and photosynthetic partners), other studies instead pointed to its entirely distinct molecular fingerprint.—
Adjective
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Algeria’s western neighbor and primary rival, Morocco, also received its first batch of Akinci drones in February 2025.—
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Even when wives are the primary or sole earners, husbands' contributions to housework remain largely unchanged, increasing only slightly when wives are sole earners.—
Adjective
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Having visibility across not only tier 1 but tier 2 and 3 suppliers to navigate risk, disruption, trade and more is critical.—
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This capability is particularly useful for studying critical environments like eelgrass beds, which support marine biodiversity.—
Cite this Entry
“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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