| Adj. | 1. | crucial - of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis; "a crucial moment in his career"; "a crucial election"; "a crucial issue for women"critical - being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency; "a critical shortage of food"; "a critical illness"; "an illness at the critical stage" decisive - determining or having the power to determine an outcome; "cast the decisive vote"; "two factors had a decisive influence" essential - basic and fundamental; "the essential feature" | |
| 2. | crucial - having crucial relevance; "crucial to the case"; "relevant testimony"material - directly relevant to a matter especially a law case; "his support made a material difference"; "evidence material to the issue at hand"; "facts likely to influence the judgment are called material facts"; "a material witness" | |
| 3. | crucial - of the greatest importance; "the all-important subject of disarmament"; "crucial information"; "in chess cool nerves are of the essence"important, of import - of great significance or value; "important people"; "the important questions of the day" | |
| 4. | crucial - having the power or quality of deciding; "the crucial experiment"; "cast the deciding vote"; "the determinative (or determinant) battle"decisive - determining or having the power to determine an outcome; "cast the decisive vote"; "two factors had a decisive influence" | |