earth-shattering

ADJECTIVE

life-and-death

Synonyms

WEAK

all-important consequential critical crucial determining earth-shaking essential imperative important indispensable life-or-death meaningful of vital importance paramount pivotal serious significant urgent vital vitally important

ADJECTIVE

momentous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

consequential crucial decisive eventful far-reaching fateful historic meaningful memorable notable pivotal significant weighty

WEAK

big chips are down considerable critical earth-shaking epochal grave heavy heavy number material of moment outstanding substantial vital

Antonyms

STRONGEST

inconsequential insignificant meaningless ordinary trivial uneventful unimportant unnoteworthy unremarkable unsubstantial

WEAK

immaterial trifling

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That score, in the 30th minute of the final game of World Cup qualifying in the fall of 1989, was as unlikely and unadorned as it proved to be earth-shattering.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

"It's really what we've found in their brains that's been so earth-shattering for us," said Dr. Sandra Weintraub, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

In 2022, Sereno returned with a 100-person team and 64 Nigerien guards to excavate the "earth-shattering site".

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

People could be forgiven for not foreseeing the earth-shattering events that were around the bend—the Depression, World War II, the birth of Elvis Presley.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

The only way these scientists can keep their sanity is by convincing themselves that they’re on the verge of an earth-shattering discovery.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

earth-shattering

Example Sentences

Related Words