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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
  • Chamberlin oversaw the spiritual and energetic cleansing of each fragrance during a final ceremonial step.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Higher temperatures generally mean more energetic particles and a higher rate of collisions, leading to brighter auroras.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 26 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
  • The Trump administration’s decision to cut USAID funding has deprived the country of essential funding and created more uncertainty for the CHW program and other initiatives.
    The Dial, The Dial, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • When carboxyhemoglobin saturation exceeds 50%, it is considered lethal.
    CBS News, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Astronauts on a mission to Mars lasting several years would be exposed to potentially lethal amounts of radiation, Pitts said.
    Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Mapping Ukraine's crucial raw mineral deposits With more than 5% of the world's total mineral resources, Ukraine is a top 10 global provider because of its diverse geological zones, according to the World Economic Forum.
    Reuters and Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Losing access to tools is not as crucial as losing access to the screws because many tools last a long time.
    Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 4 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
  • The Burt's Bees Spring Gift Set includes four refreshing lip balms: Original Beeswax, Dragonfruit Lemon, Tropical Pineapple, and Strawberry.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Big changes are afoot in Panama’s film industry as a young, dynamic (and mostly female) team backed by its newish President José Raúl Mulino is spearheading new initiatives.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 5 Apr. 2025
  • With its expansion into Morocco and a dynamic competition format, the league is elevating the sport’s profile globally.
    Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The 2025 season has brought a lively atmosphere, with a strong law enforcement presence to ensure safety.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The same subject stirred up a lively debate in the Vogue Slack channel.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vital.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vital. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vital

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