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
Elsewhere, gawp at Patty Chang greedily gobbling a melon standing in for her breast in her seminal 1998 video Melons (At a Loss) and the bloodthirsty mermaids swimming through Jen Liu’s 2023 video The Land at the Bottom of the Sea.
—
Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025
His Pro Player Pathway development approach — and creation of the Sporting KC Academy — were considered seminal factors in Kansas City’s soccer dominance of the 2010s.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjacent to the park in an indoor gallery, The Vertical City exhibition presents architectural models of Norman Foster’s seminal works, underscoring the depth of vision behind the Pyramid’s transformation.
—Jennifer Lee, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
George Orwell's haunting vision of a totalitarian future is thoughtfully explored in this film adaptation of his seminal novel, in which humble worker Winston Smith (John Hurt) and his fellow citizens must deal with constant surveillance by the government, punishing all those who fall out of line.
—Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025
His Pro Player Pathway development approach — and creation of the Sporting KC Academy — were considered seminal factors in Kansas City’s soccer dominance of the 2010s.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjacent to the park in an indoor gallery, The Vertical City exhibition presents architectural models of Norman Foster’s seminal works, underscoring the depth of vision behind the Pyramid’s transformation.
—Jennifer Lee, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
George Orwell's haunting vision of a totalitarian future is thoughtfully explored in this film adaptation of his seminal novel, in which humble worker Winston Smith (John Hurt) and his fellow citizens must deal with constant surveillance by the government, punishing all those who fall out of line.
—Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seminal
Adjective
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Confronting this shadowy threat to kids everywhere, Mani was named as one of TIME's most influential people in AI last year due to her advocacy fighting deepfakes.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
4 Apr. 2025
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The claim filed by Brian Marvel of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, or PORAC, a politically influential trade association that advocates for law enforcement officers across the state, accuses DeMaio of mishandling campaign donations to the political action committee.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The historic program last won the title in 2016, led by MVP Breanna Stewart.—
Allison Smith,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The Ritz-Carlton preserved historic details like century-old shelving and original onsen (hot spring) plumbing without crossing into museum territory.—
Paul Jebara,
Travel + Leisure,
6 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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Sri Lanka worried that its economic recovery would be derailed as its clothing industry faced new tariffs from its most important export market.—
Time,
Time,
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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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
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This capability is particularly useful for studying critical environments like eelgrass beds, which support marine biodiversity.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Working with seasoned veterans was also a thrill for Frenchman Renan Pacheco, who scored his first major American role playing Lane’s love interest in the pilot.—
Rance Collins,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
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The question of whether a homegrown act with a major K-pop influence can cross over, and truly take root, in the notoriously discerning British mainstream is more complex.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Seminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seminal. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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