Synonyms for

Seminal

Verb / ˈsemʌnʌl / Another word for seminal — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Seminal means strongly influencing later developments or having a strong impact on something.

Synonyms & similar words

Synonyms by register

Antonyms

Common collocations

  • seminal work
  • seminal text
  • seminal study
  • seminal research
  • seminal idea
  • seminal contribution
  • seminal figure

Word family

adjective seminal

Usage note

Often used to describe works or ideas that are highly influential and form the basis for future developments. Avoid using it for something merely important or significant without also implying originality or foundational status.

Example sentences

  1. The Beatles' music had a seminal influence on rock and roll.
  2. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was a seminal idea.
  3. The invention of the Internet was a seminal moment in history.
  4. The seminal research in the field of medicine paved the way for new treatments.
  5. The movie was a seminal work of art that changed the way people thought about film.

Quotes

  • The seminal experience was my father's death, but then emotionally thereafter, was the move to New York, which was overwhelming.
  • So, Europe's economy was based around a closed network of relationships, and India's economy was based on a vast open network of relationships. They were both crushed by the same newcomer. But fast forward 500 years. The world is now being remade again by a new network of relationships. And the powerful idea at its core is what I call the 'seminal idea'.
  • It's a seminal moment for the music industry.

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