Another Word for Important: 16 Synonyms with Examples
“Important” means having great value, effect or influence. It is a vague word, so a more precise synonym usually tells the reader why something matters.
As an adjective: of great significance or value
- significant
- crucial
- essential
- vital
- key
- major
- critical
- central
- fundamental
- notable
As an adjective: having high status or influence
- influential
- prominent
- powerful
- eminent
- leading
- high-ranking
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How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- significant
- Suggests something is large enough to notice or to have consequences. In research writing it can imply statistical significance, so use it carefully.
- crucial
- Stronger: the outcome depends on it. Use it for a deciding factor, not for everything that matters.
- essential
- Means something cannot be done without. It is about necessity rather than size.
- key
- Informal and compact; works well before a noun, as in “the key point”.
- influential
- Use it for people, ideas and works that shape others, not for facts or events.
Example sentences
- significant: There was a significant drop in attendance after the fees went up.
- crucial: The first ten minutes of an interview are crucial.
- essential: Clean water is essential for a healthy community.
- key: Trust was the key factor in her decision.
- influential: Darwin wrote one of the most influential books of the nineteenth century.
Opposite of important
- unimportant
- trivial
- minor
- insignificant
More from WordNet
Less common or more specialised words WordNet lists for other senses of “important”. Check the meaning before you use one.
adjective: authoritative
WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Used under the WordNet licence.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “important”?
The most useful alternatives are “significant”, “crucial”, “essential”, “vital”, “key”. For the main sense (of great significance or value), “significant” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “significant” and “crucial”?
significant: Suggests something is large enough to notice or to have consequences. In research writing it can imply statistical significance, so use it carefully. crucial: Stronger: the outcome depends on it. Use it for a deciding factor, not for everything that matters.
What is the opposite of “important”?
Common antonyms are “unimportant”, “trivial”, “minor”, “insignificant”.