INDISPENSABLE Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

indispensable

adjective

ˌin-di-ˈspen(t)-sə-bəl

Definition of indispensable

as in essential

impossible to do without fully aware that he was an indispensable assistant, he decided that it was high time that he be paid what he was worth

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of indispensable The leaders who succeed long-term understand how indispensable these priorities are and protect them from short-term stressors. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 While renewable energy is expanding quickly, coal remains indispensable in Asia. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026 For decades, mayors from both political parties have recognized Israel as an indispensable partner to New York and have understood that supporting the Jewish state reflects the values and makeup of America’s largest city. — Herbert Block, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026 Public finance remains indispensable, particularly for communities and projects that cannot or should not generate commercial returns. — Marcene Mitchell, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indispensable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indispensable

Adjective

This would be particularly relevant in contested environments where drones can observe roads, locate logistics convoys and attack vehicles carrying ammunition, fuel, food and other essential supplies.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Blaze, previously more peripheral to the adventure, became essential.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of essential

Adjective

Expect Raman, whom City Hall opponents have long trashed as conflict-averse, to focus on a message of possibility and positivity while holding her ground and striking back — and hard — when necessary.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Officials said no other evacuations were necessary and public safety employees and emergency responders remained on duty.

— Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of necessary

Adjective

For years, posting clips online has been integral to comedians’ process of building an audience and selling tickets to their live shows.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Perhaps the biggest vote of confidence has been Nvidia’s acquisition of Hugging Face, a repository of open-source AI models that has become as integral to developers’ processes as GitHub.

— Kevin Cochrane, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of integral

Adjective

Schools closed before Isaias swept through the region last Friday and have been scrambling to make needed repairs to facilities while awaiting power restoration.

— Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Many shelters are operated by nonprofit organizations but owned by the city or private entities, limiting the nonprofit’s ability to make needed improvements.

— Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of needed

Adjective

Szarkowski makes a number of other vital points in the book, chief among them that photography as a phenomenon belongs not just to the artist but to anyone with vision.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Such technology could one day prove to be vital if another potential Tunguska-type object were found to be on a collision course with Earth.

— Micah Hanks, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of vital

Browse Nearby Words

indiscriminating

indispensable

indisposed

See all Nearby Words

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Style

“Indispensable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indispensable. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of indispensable

adjective

Example Sentences

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