SEMINAL Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

seminal

adjective

Definition of seminal

as in influential

very important especially in having a strong influence on things that come later She authored several seminal papers that are frequently cited in later works because they laid the theoretical groundwork for future studies.

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of seminal One theory, proposed in seminal papers by the Italian hydrologist Andrea Rinaldo and colleagues in the early 1990s, says that river networks are elongated at large scales because this is the most energy-efficient way of transporting water downhill. — Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 This year marks the 40th anniversary of Top Gun, one of the seminal films of the 1980s and the breakout role that established a young Tom Cruise as an action star. — Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Amazon's earnings report last week is another seminal event in the AI trade resurgence. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 Nevertheless, his first and most famous book—the seminal 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential—is dedicated to Nancy and peppered with mentions of her. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seminal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for seminal

Adjective

Iran and Oman have already reached an agreement on their respective shares of the vital economic artery, controversially including revenues associated with its administration, the influential military group told the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.

— Mike Sheen,Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has become one of the most influential, and contentious, private sector figures in Ukraine’s war effort.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of influential

Adjective

Brussels offers a different atmosphere from Rome and La Baule, two of the sport’s historic destinations.

— Gemma Redrup, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Organizers say contemporary art can reinvigorate historic spaces while giving artists new settings to engage with the UK’s architectural and cultural heritage.

— George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of historic

Adjective

That has changed quietly, with robots now performing important roles in operating rooms, hospital wards, rehabilitation centers, and corridors around the world.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Reseeding is particularly important in high-traffic areas or patches of the lawn where grubs, heat, or disease have left the turf thin.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of important

Adjective

Because these procedures can be incredibly complex, each chamber of Congress has a parliamentarian who provides authoritative, objective, and nonpartisan guidance on how rules and precedents should be interpreted and applied.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Their strategic advantage lies in leveraging local expertise and trusted, authoritative content directly within AI interfaces.

— Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of authoritative

Adjective

The critical consensus on the Croisette was similarly effusive.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Restrictions on energy, electricity or critical minerals, something Ford also floated, could instead raise costs for American companies and consumers by making key inputs more expensive or harder to obtain.

— Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of critical

Adjective

With its coronagraph and WFI, the telescope is designed to make groundbreaking strides in the fields of dark matter and dark energy, exoplanet discoveries, and will be capable of capturing views 100 times wider than those of its Hubble predecessor.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a groundbreaking pancreatic cancer drug that experts predict will transform treatment for the notoriously deadly disease.

— Erika Edwards, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of groundbreaking

Browse Nearby Words

semimonthly

seminal

seminar

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“Seminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seminal. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of seminal

adjective

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