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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Recent Examples of seminal
In their seminal 1976 book, One Potato, Two Potato: The Folklore of American Children, Herbert and Mary Knapp described cooties as a kind of sport.
—
Bruce Handy, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy all took the stage during a panel conversation celebrating the seminal coming-of-age drama at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo yesterday.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2025
According to a synopsis, the book focuses on Smith’s teenage years, her foray into the world of poetry, and the recording of seminal works such as her Horses and Easter albums.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Around the same time as The Maxx, Haley contributed voice work to Blizzard Entertainment's seminal video game Diablo.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Bruce Handy, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy all took the stage during a panel conversation celebrating the seminal coming-of-age drama at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo yesterday.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2025
According to a synopsis, the book focuses on Smith’s teenage years, her foray into the world of poetry, and the recording of seminal works such as her Horses and Easter albums.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Around the same time as The Maxx, Haley contributed voice work to Blizzard Entertainment's seminal video game Diablo.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seminal
Adjective
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The Obama operatives have held control or at a minimum been highly influential in the Democratic Party’s 2016, 2020 and 2024 campaigns.—
Amie Parnes,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2025
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Two influential New York City labor unions that backed Mayor Eric Adams in 2021 switched their support on Monday to former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, reflecting his growing dominance as the race for mayor accelerates.—
Nicholas Fandos,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Besides properties of historic interest, the Charlotte History Museum is presenting a few other awards, as well.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Apr. 2025
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The new measurements may lead researchers toward a historic discovery.—
Daniel Apai,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This Milan Design Week was an important one for Louis Vuitton.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
10 Apr. 2025
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Food safety Certain undercooked foods can result in illness, making food safety important for everyone.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Leadership is often associated with grand speeches, authoritative presence and a commanding voice.—
Mohammad Bahareth,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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There are lots of ways to be an authoritative parent, which can leave moms and dads (but mostly moms) feeling rudderless.—
Gail Cornwall,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Having visibility across not only tier 1 but tier 2 and 3 suppliers to navigate risk, disruption, trade and more is critical.—
Sarah Jones,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Apr. 2025
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The win was also critical for the Lakers (49-31) who are the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and remain 1 1/2 games ahead of the rival Clippers in the loaded West.—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has a major advantage here: Google is guilty.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
21 Apr. 2025
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Prior to release, a leaker hacked into the systems of the developers at Naughty Dog and spoiled major plot points from the story months in advance, which fueled a barrage of toxic responses, including death threats, against the creators.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The groundbreaking event takes place on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 7:30 PM at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
8 Apr. 2025
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The forthcoming graphic novel celebrates the groundbreaking impact of Black Sunday, taking readers on a journey through the making of the album and its everlasting impact.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Seminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seminal. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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