significant

adjective

sig-ˈni-fi-kənt How to pronounce significant (audio)
Definition of significantnext
1
as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect made a significant change in the procedure for applying for citizenship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in indicative
indicating something the town's generous library budget is significant of the value its residents place on learning

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3
as in influential
having great power or influence a producer who is playing a significant role in the creation of the new film

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in considerable
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention paid a significant amount of money for the movie rights to the book

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in suggestive
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) after remarking that tardiness was on the rise, our boss cast a significant glance my way

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 significant However, a study published in January found no statistically significant correlation between proximity to active and abandoned oil and gas development and the risk of childhood Ewing sarcoma in California. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Their return to northern Svalbard in recent decades is particularly significant. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The deal, which would have valued the company at $799 million, was the first significant IPO to test investor appetite in Saudi since the onset of the Iran war in February. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The battle at the University of Costa Rica gained significant attention, with some viewers leaving comments on the videos over the spectacle. — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for significant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for significant
  1. major
  2. indicative
  3. influential
  4. considerable
  5. suggestive
  6. important
  7. reflective
  8. powerful
Adjective
  • The whipsawing legal battle could have major ramifications for the midterms.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Businesses considering major investments pay close attention to regulatory risk.
    — Robin Rossenfeld, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of major
Adjective
  • Participating brands align around a common fiber specification and supply chain, then provide indicative volumes that can be combined to meet minimum order quantities at the fiber and yarn levels.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There was no sign of the usual easy-going, affable nature that has been so indicative of Joe Root’s personality in his 14 years as an England cricketer.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of indicative
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
  • Long-term concessions give foreign companies considerable influence over critical infrastructure.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • With the excitement will come considerable outside expectations he’s never experienced — some of Sumrall’s own making.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of considerable
Adjective
  • Messages in 2024 between Johnson and Duffey revealed the two men used suggestive language.
    — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • They are not allowed to send or receive pornography, but there are no rules against suggestive photos.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of suggestive
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
  • Tycho Crater is visible in the lower region of the lunar disk close to the shadow, while bright ejecta rays of reflective material brighten the darker lunar seas, where lava solidified to form basaltic plains billions of years ago.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Exhilarating, sublime, and unsettling, these installations—which often incorporate polka-dot balloons, pumpkins, LED lights, and soundtracks—immerse the viewer in infinite reflective surfaces, exploding even small spaces into an endless expanse.
    — Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of reflective
Adjective
  • Experts said it was most likely caused by a partial glacier collapse that sent tons of ice and rock crashing down into the valley below, setting off a powerful landslide.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Hacking incident Hugging Face was recently at the center of a hacking incident that raised concerns about the rapid evolution of powerful AI and cybersecurity tools.
    — April Roach, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of powerful

Phrases Containing significant

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significances
significant
significantly
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Cite this Entry

“Significant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/significant. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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