Synonyms essential
essential ▪ vital ▪ crucial ▪ critical ▪ decisive ▪ indispensable
These words all describe somebody/something that is extremely important and completely necessary because a particular situation or activity depends on them.
essential extremely important and completely necessary, because without it something cannot exist, be made or be successful:
Experience is essential for this job.
vital essential:
The police play a vital role in our society.
essential or vital?
These words have the same meaning but there can be a slight difference in tone. Essential is used to state a fact or opinion with authority. Vital is often used when there is some worry felt about something, or a need to persuade somebody that a fact or opinion is true, right or important. Vital is less often used in negative statements: It was vital to show that he was not afraid. • Money is not vital to happiness.
crucial extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:
It is crucial that we get this right.
critical extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:
Your decision is critical to our future.
crucial or critical?
These words have the same meaning but there can be a slight difference in context. Critical is often used in technical matters of business or science; crucial is often used to talk about matters that may cause worry or other emotions.
decisive of the greatest importance in affecting the final result of a particular situation:
She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations.
indispensable essential; too important to be without:
Cars have become an indispensable part of our lives.
Patterns
essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable for something
essential/vital/crucial/critical/indispensable to something
essential/vital/crucial/critical that…
essential/vital/crucial/critical to do something
a(n) essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable part/factor
of vital/crucial/critical/decisive importance
absolutely essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable