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Synonym Chooser

How is the word vital different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of vital are cardinal, essential, and fundamental. While all these words mean "so important as to be indispensable," vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation.

cut off from vital supplies

When might cardinal be a better fit than vital?

In some situations, the words cardinal and vital are roughly equivalent. However, cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends.

a cardinal rule in buying a home

When can essential be used instead of vital?

While the synonyms essential and vital are close in meaning, essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

conflict is essential in drama

Where would fundamental be a reasonable alternative to vital?

While in some cases nearly identical to vital, fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse.

fundamental principles of algebra

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 vital Having the space to carry water, snacks and all your belongings is vital on these hikes. Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Its most vital services have been surveys that Westat, a private research company, performs for AHRQ on contract, said Parente, who was chief economist for health policy in the first Trump administration. Arthur Allen, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025 Although leadership plays a vital role in shaping organizational culture and what happens at the top trickles down to the rest of the organization, small groups of employees can also spark meaningful shifts. Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 The executive order Trump signed Thursday to do away with the department did not offer a timeline, but his administration appears poised to carve away all but the department's most vital operations. arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vital
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vital
Adjective
  • He's been a warrior, always bouncing back to his energetic self.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Claudine’s vibe is welcoming and the lunch crowd is energetic.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • These teams also check for individuals with active warrants.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Many freedom seekers began their journey unaided and many completed their self-emancipation without assistance, but each subsequent decade in which slavery was legal in the United States, there was an increase in active efforts to assist escape.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Since 2014, the ACL Hall of Fame has honored artists who have played an essential role in the series’ half-century as a premier supporter of top-shelf music.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.
    Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But South Carolina lawmakers saw it as the quickest and most humane way to kill an inmate, especially with the uncertainty in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Neither are the most lethal shooting teams from deep, with Houston 13th and Memphis 15th in made 3s per game.
    Kelly Iko, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With a constant wave of new competition flooding shelves—and social media—understanding your consumers' needs and habits has never been more crucial.
    Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • In 2018, Allen and a group of colleagues published a report suggesting that viewpoint diversity and free expression are crucial components of inclusion and belonging on university campuses.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Follow Hochman for continued coverage on what's delicious, refreshing, inspiring, indulgent and entertaining in California and way beyond.
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Seeing new sights and breathing in fresh energy will be refreshing.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Plus, dynamic guard Charlisse Leger-Walker will be ready to go, adding to a backcourt that’s already deep and talented.
    Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Develop An Energy Management System The goal is to develop a dynamic Energy Management System (EMS).
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Panelists had been carefully chosen and the moderators ensured lively debates took place.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • To introduce persimmon in a balanced way, Bassford recommends incorporating the color into decorative touches like wallpaper, upholstery, or bedding for a lively yet harmonious effect.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vital.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vital. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vital

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