[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":191},["ShallowReactive",2],{"w-key":3},{"word":4,"pos":5,"definition":6,"senses":7,"antonyms":174,"tip":180,"faq":181},"key","adjective, noun","very important or essential, or a small metal tool used to open a lock or operate a mechanism.",[8,64,105,145],{"label":9,"pos":10,"gloss":11,"synonyms":12},"important","adjective","crucial or central",[13,22,27,32,39,44,49,54,59],{"w":14,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":16,"nuance":20,"example":21},"crucial",4,[17,18,19],"academic","business","casual","stresses decisive importance","Getting enough sleep is crucial to learning effectively.",{"w":23,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":24,"nuance":25,"example":26},"vital",[17,18,19],"suggests necessary for success or survival","Clear communication is vital during a crisis.",{"w":28,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":29,"nuance":30,"example":31},"essential",[17,18,19],"means absolutely necessary","Water is essential for human life.",{"w":33,"intensity":34,"formality":34,"contexts":35,"nuance":37,"example":38},"central",3,[17,18,36],"creative","focuses on being at the center of attention","Trust is a central theme in the novel.",{"w":40,"intensity":34,"formality":34,"contexts":41,"nuance":42,"example":43},"major",[17,18,19],"broadly important, less emphatic","The report identifies one major risk.",{"w":45,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":46,"nuance":47,"example":48},"critical",[17,18],"important and potentially decisive","This is a critical decision for the company.",{"w":50,"intensity":34,"formality":15,"contexts":51,"nuance":52,"example":53},"principal",[17,18],"formal term for the main one","The principal reason was cost.",{"w":55,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":56,"nuance":57,"example":58},"pivotal",[17,18,36],"suggests turning-point importance","Her testimony was pivotal to the case.",{"w":60,"intensity":34,"formality":15,"contexts":61,"nuance":62,"example":63},"significant",[17,18],"important enough to notice or matter","The policy had a significant impact on hiring.",{"label":65,"pos":66,"gloss":67,"synonyms":68},"essential person","noun","someone or something of major importance",[69,74,79,84,89,94,99],{"w":70,"intensity":15,"formality":34,"contexts":71,"nuance":72,"example":73},"linchpin",[18,19],"the thing or person holding everything together","She was the linchpin of the whole operation.",{"w":75,"intensity":15,"formality":15,"contexts":76,"nuance":77,"example":78},"cornerstone",[17,18],"foundation on which something rests","Trust is the cornerstone of the partnership.",{"w":80,"intensity":34,"formality":15,"contexts":81,"nuance":82,"example":83},"mainstay",[18,17],"reliable support or chief source","Tourism is the mainstay of the local economy.",{"w":85,"intensity":34,"formality":34,"contexts":86,"nuance":87,"example":88},"pillar",[18,19,36],"strong supporter or essential part","He has been a pillar of the community for years.",{"w":90,"intensity":15,"formality":34,"contexts":91,"nuance":92,"example":93},"linchpin person",[18,19],"person everyone depends on","In practice, she was the linchpin person on the team.",{"w":95,"intensity":34,"formality":34,"contexts":96,"nuance":97,"example":98},"key player",[18,19,17],"common phrase for an influential participant","He became a key player in the negotiations.",{"w":100,"intensity":101,"formality":34,"contexts":102,"nuance":103,"example":104},"figurehead",1,[18,17,19],"important-looking but often not truly powerful","The director was more of a figurehead than a decision-maker.",{"label":106,"pos":66,"gloss":107,"synonyms":108},"lock opener","a metal object used to open a lock",[109,114,119,125,130,135,140],{"w":110,"intensity":34,"formality":15,"contexts":111,"nuance":112,"example":113},"passkey",[17,18],"master or special key for multiple locks","The building manager carried a passkey.",{"w":115,"intensity":34,"formality":34,"contexts":116,"nuance":117,"example":118},"master key",[18,19],"opens many locks in a system","The janitor used a master key to unlock the doors.",{"w":120,"intensity":121,"formality":34,"contexts":122,"nuance":123,"example":124},"electronic key",2,[18,19],"digital device rather than a metal key","I used an electronic key to enter the hotel room.",{"w":126,"intensity":121,"formality":34,"contexts":127,"nuance":128,"example":129},"card key",[18,19],"plastic access card, common in hotels and offices","The receptionist gave me a card key for the room.",{"w":131,"intensity":121,"formality":15,"contexts":132,"nuance":133,"example":134},"turnkey",[18,17],"usually a complete ready-to-use solution, not the object itself","They bought a turnkey security system for the warehouse.",{"w":136,"intensity":34,"formality":34,"contexts":137,"nuance":138,"example":139},"door key",[19,18],"ordinary key for a door","I left my door key on the table.",{"w":141,"intensity":34,"formality":34,"contexts":142,"nuance":143,"example":144},"house key",[19,18],"key used for a home","She reached for her house key at the door.",{"label":146,"pos":66,"gloss":147,"synonyms":148},"answer guide","a guide to correct answers or interpretation",[149,154,159,164,169],{"w":150,"intensity":34,"formality":34,"contexts":151,"nuance":152,"example":153},"answer key",[17,18,19],"standard term for correct answers","The teacher posted the answer key after the quiz.",{"w":155,"intensity":34,"formality":15,"contexts":156,"nuance":157,"example":158},"solutions manual",[17,18],"formal book of worked answers","The solutions manual includes step-by-step explanations.",{"w":160,"intensity":121,"formality":34,"contexts":161,"nuance":162,"example":163},"guide",[17,18,19],"broader help, not only correct answers","Use the guide to check your work.",{"w":165,"intensity":121,"formality":15,"contexts":166,"nuance":167,"example":168},"reference",[17,18],"source used for checking rather than answering","She consulted the reference for the formula.",{"w":170,"intensity":101,"formality":34,"contexts":171,"nuance":172,"example":173},"keying",[18,17],"process of entering or coding information, not the answer sheet","The data keying took longer than expected.",[175,176,177,178,179],"unimportant","minor","secondary","trivial","insignificant","Use key when you want a broad, natural word that works in many registers. Choose a stronger word like crucial or vital when you need sharper emphasis, or a more formal word like principal or cornerstone when the context is academic or businesslike.",[182,185,188],{"q":183,"a":184},"What is the most formal or academic synonym for key in the sense of important?","Principal, essential, and crucial are the most formal alternatives in many contexts, with principal often sounding especially academic or bureaucratic. Pivotal is also formal when you want to suggest a turning point or decisive role.",{"q":186,"a":187},"What is a stronger or milder synonym for key?","For stronger emphasis, use crucial, vital, or critical. For a milder choice, important or major usually sounds less forceful than key.",{"q":189,"a":190},"What is the best synonym for key when it means a metal object that opens a lock?","Usually the best choice is simply key; it is the standard word. More specific terms like master key, passkey, card key, or electronic key work only when the type of key matters.",1790472037668]