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
Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways Maryland's law is imperfect, and advocates said so publicly.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
The key is choosing items that reflect her daily rituals and specific tastes rather than grabbing whatever is generic and available.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Brian Hooker told officials that his wife, Lynette Hooker, fell off their eight-foot dinghy during a trip from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands after the couple left on the night of Saturday, April 4, taking the boat keys with her and causing the engine to shut off.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for key
Adjective
Each event is designed to foster meaningful conversation, elevate standout work, and create memorable moments that resonate with key decision-makers.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways Maryland's law is imperfect, and advocates said so publicly.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
The key is choosing varieties that can handle heavy soil that stays wet for longer.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
The key is choosing items that reflect her daily rituals and specific tastes rather than grabbing whatever is generic and available.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Livingston also keyed in on future All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III in 2018, as former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis recalled.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Brian Hooker told officials that his wife, Lynette Hooker, fell off their eight-foot dinghy during a trip from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands after the couple left on the night of Saturday, April 4, taking the boat keys with her and causing the engine to shut off.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
Adjective
-
Three main risks should worry Congress, the courts and every American about the rapid rise of these markets.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Surges can sometimes indicate an underlying wiring issue or a problem with your main breaker.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The information provided is crucial in identifying whether the state meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Jackie Vece, head of the residents’ association and chief organizer of their campaign, said capping rent increases is crucial.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Uber said users will soon get restaurant recommendations and be able to book tables in its app through OpenTable.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
From providing turndown service to small touches such as an eye mask laid on the bed and small chocolates on the bedside table.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Practical applications for the gateway include everything from managing equipment maintenance workflows to performing real-time stock checks.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
San Francisco International Airport — roughly a 90-minute drive west — serves as a major gateway with nonstop service to Tokyo.—
Lauren Schuster,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In theory, multiple surgeons could all tap into the same first-person video feed and provide assistance for a surgery from anywhere in the world with internet access.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Depending on the use case, that information may include security architectures, cryptographic implementations, authentication and access-control logic, vulnerability remediation code, trade secrets, and other proprietary business logic.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Serkis’ sweetly queasy film can’t reconcile with the brutality of Orwell’s original writing.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Critics haven’t been able to reconcile the film’s disparate goals.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
By reducing interfacial resistance and suppressing the growth of lithium dendrites, the technology addresses a primary mechanical barrier to the commercial use of lithium metal anodes.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
-
First District voters will choose a Republican candidate in the May 5 primary election.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Dozens of nations push for reopening of strait Dozens of nations repeated calls to open the critical waterway in a joint statement led by Bahrain.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Those increases are being driven in part by global supply concerns, including ongoing tensions involving Iran and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil shipments.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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