pivotal

adjective

piv·​ot·​al ˈpi-və-tᵊl How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
Synonyms of pivotal
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a pivot
2
: vitally important : critical
pivotally
ˈpi-və-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of pivotal

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Examples of pivotal in a Sentence

She is at a pivotal point in her career. the report was missing a pivotal piece of information
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This concept of withdrawal informed the pivotal work Raad showed at the Arab world’s first white cube gallery, Sfeir-Semler Gallery, which opened in 2005. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 To my mind, there are four, maybe five, pivotal candy stores on the island of Manhattan. — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026 Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are flying back to cast votes in what many describe as the most pivotal election in the country’s history. — Daniel Brook, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026 An unnecessary roughness penalty was pivotal on West Virginia’s final touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pivotal

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pivotal was in 1838

Browse Nearby Words

pivot
pivotal
pivotal fault
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Cite this Entry

“Pivotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pivotal. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pivotal

adjective
piv·​ot·​al ˈpiv-ət-ᵊl How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or functioning as a pivot
2
: extremely important : critical
a pivotal discovery
pivotally
-ᵊl-ē How to pronounce pivotal (audio)
adverb
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