as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry
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Recent Examples of ground zero
This was peak space-race America, and Houston was ground zero, with NASA’s Johnson Space Center miles away.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026
Washington is now ground zero for an advocacy battle over how to write the rules of the road for a nascent technology that promises to reshape everything from education and health care to war-fighting.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Sitting right in the heart of Ocean Drive just steps from the sand, its open-air pool and lively patio are ground zero for that nonstop energy the neighborhood is known for.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
During Denver’s summer of violence in the early 1990s, it was considered ground zero for gang conflict.
—Beverly Kingston, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026
Washington is now ground zero for an advocacy battle over how to write the rules of the road for a nascent technology that promises to reshape everything from education and health care to war-fighting.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Sitting right in the heart of Ocean Drive just steps from the sand, its open-air pool and lively patio are ground zero for that nonstop energy the neighborhood is known for.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
During Denver’s summer of violence in the early 1990s, it was considered ground zero for gang conflict.
—Beverly Kingston, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground zero
Noun
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Downstairs, meanwhile, the finished basement could become a rec room, billiards room, or fitness center, with a large brick fireplace heating up the space.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
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At the center are three siblings bound by the legacy their mother built and the unfinished business their father left behind.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The insurgents, who operate at ease, crossing borders and dominating much of the countryside in Mali and Burkina Faso, now feel emboldened to target capital cities.—
Ulf Laessing,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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And the cost for the pool’s ongoing repairs have delayed the Park District’s ability to do many other capital projects in the parks.—
Chuck Fieldman,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The city’s brand — a safe, efficient, business-friendly hub for capital, tourism, logistics, and talent — was suddenly under scrutiny from investors, multinational executives, and residents who had chosen to build their businesses and lives there.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The royal, 43, made the trip to highlight the hub's approach to electrification, innovation and sustainability.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Houston is a mecca for high-calorie delicious meals.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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Mack Lewis Gym, which is a huge boxing mecca.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Geopolitics aside, central bank meetings are a key focus as the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and peers in Japan, the UK and Canada are all scheduled to decide on policy.—
Ashutosh Joshi,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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Getting Point and Kucherov going There’s been a lot of focus on Montreal’s top line and its offensive struggles at five-on-five in this series.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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When runners are on base, the hitters are unable to drive them in for runs.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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The company's base home warranty plans are affordable at $55 to $65 per month, and add-ons are often between $3 and $8 each.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Solar radiation causes material locked inside the comet's solid nucleus to escape through a process called sublimation, releasing dust and gas into space.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Core players giving their squad a high baseline is always vital in the playoffs, and the Ducks finally have some chance at hanging with other teams’ nuclei thanks to Carlsson and Gauthier’s ongoing emergence.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The core dispute is the skyrocketing cost of healthcare premiums.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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Objects that formed between the soot and frost lines will be less dense, will have the capacity to possess some volatiles, and can have a wide variety of masses, but should always have rock-and-metal cores.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20zero. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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