" key "

1: coming before all others in importance;

  * e.g., " ... maintains that Sir Isaac Newton remains the key figure in physical science "

•  Synonyms : 

•  arch,

•  big,

•  capital,

•  cardinal,

•  central,

•  chief,

•  dominant,

•  first,

•  foremost,

•  grand,

•  great,

•  greatest,

•  highest,

•  leading,

•  main,

•  master,

•  number one,

•  numero uno,

•  overbearing,

•  overmastering,

•  overriding,

•  paramount,

•  predominant,

•  preeminent,

•  premier,

•  primal,

•  primary,

•  principal,

•  prior,

•  sovereign,

•  supreme

•  Antonyms : 

•  last,

•  least

2: of the greatest possible importance;

  * e.g., " ... first—and this is key—I wasn't even there that evening "

•  Synonyms : 

•  critical,

•  crucial,

•  pivotal,

•  vital

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: as in atonal, tuneless;

•  Synonyms : 

•  atonal,

•  tuneless,

•  disagreeable,

•  unpleasant,

•  unpleasing,

•  resounding,

•  sonorous,

•  blaring,

•  clanging,

•  clangorous,

•  clashing,

•  clattering,

•  dinning,

•  grating,

•  harsh,

•  jangling,

•  jangly,

•  jarring,

•  metallic,

•  noisy,

•  raspy,

•  raucous,

•  scratching,

•  screeching,

•  shrill,

•  squeaky,

•  strident,

•  clamorous,

•  uproarious,

•  cacophonous,

•  discordant,

•  dissonant,

•  inharmonious,

•  unmelodious,

•  unmusical,

•  unvocal

•  Antonyms : 

•  harmonious,

•  harmonizing,

•  melodious,

•  musical,

•  dulcet,

•  euphonious,

•  mellifluent,

•  mellifluous,

•  mellow,

•  melodic,

•  sweet,

•  tuneful,

•  resonant,

•  sonorous,

•  quavering,

•  trilling,

•  warbling,

•  agreeable,

•  appealing,

•  pleasant,

•  cadenced,

•  lilting,

•  lyric,

•  lyrical,

•  rhythmic,

•  chordal,

•  harmonic,

•  homophonic,

•  orchestral,

•  polyphonic,

•  symphonic,

•  symphonious,

•  tonal,

•  calm,

•  hushed,

•  noiseless,

•  quiet,

•  silent,

•  soundless,

•  still

1: not excessively showy;

  * e.g., " ... hoping to make a good impression, he deliberately chose a low-key tie with a subtle pattern "

•  Synonyms : 

•  conservative,

•  muted,

•  quiet,

•  repressed,

•  restrained,

•  sober,

•  subdued,

•  toned-down,

•  understated,

•  unflashy,

•  unpretentious

•  Antonyms : 

•  flamboyant,

•  flaring,

•  flashy,

•  garish,

•  gaudy,

•  glitzy,

•  loud,

•  noisy,

•  ostentatious,

•  razzle-dazzle,

•  splashy,

•  swank

1: an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart;

  * e.g., " ... in order to know what those dotted lines represent, you'll need to look at the key "

•  Synonyms : 

•  legend

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

2: something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal;

  * e.g., " ... a good education is the key to success "

•  Synonyms : 

•  gateway,

•  open sesame,

•  passport,

•  secret,

•  ticket

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: the means or right of entering or participating in;

  * e.g., " ... he had found the key to her heart "

•  Synonyms : 

•  access,

•  accession,

•  admission,

•  admittance,

•  door,

•  doorway,

•  entrance,

•  entrée,

•  entry,

•  gateway,

•  ingress,

•  passport,

•  ticket

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: as in club, country club;

•  Synonyms : 

•  camp,

•  canteen,

•  club,

•  clubhouse,

•  country club,

•  service club,

•  union,

•  hangout,

•  haunt,

•  purlieu,

•  rendezvous,

•  resort,

•  stamping ground,

•  stomping ground,

•  harbor,

•  harborage,

•  haven,

•  nest,

•  refuge,

•  retreat,

•  sanctuary

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: as in clubs, country clubs;

•  Synonyms : 

•  camps,

•  canteens,

•  clubhouses,

•  clubs,

•  country clubs,

•  service clubs,

•  unions,

•  hangouts,

•  haunts,

•  purlieus,

•  rendezvous,

•  resorts,

•  stamping grounds,

•  stomping grounds,

•  harborages,

•  harbors,

•  havens,

•  nests,

•  refuges,

•  retreats,

•  sanctuaries

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences;

  * e.g., " ... her response was perfectly keyed to the situation "

•  Synonyms : 

•  accommodate,

•  attune,

•  conciliate,

•  conform,

•  coordinate,

•  harmonize,

•  reconcile

•  Antonyms : 

•  disharmonize

1: as in set off, drive;

•  Synonyms : 

•  activate,

•  animate,

•  drive,

•  energize,

•  galvanize,

•  induce,

•  inspire,

•  motivate,

•  motive,

•  pump up,

•  quicken,

•  set off,

•  vitalize,

•  fan,

•  ignite,

•  inflame,

•  kindle,

•  trigger,

•  abet,

•  ferment,

•  foment,

•  raise,

•  whip (up),

•  arouse,

•  encourage,

•  excite,

•  fire (up),

•  impassion,

•  incite,

•  instigate,

•  move,

•  pique,

•  provoke,

•  rev (up),

•  spark,

•  stimulate,

•  stir,

•  anger,

•  enrage,

•  madden,

•  upset,

•  jeer,

•  taunt,

•  tease,

•  aggravate,

•  annoy,

•  bother,

•  exasperate,

•  gall,

•  get,

•  irritate,

•  vex

•  Antonyms : 

•  calm,

•  soothe,

•  subdue,

•  tranquilize,

•  appease,

•  mollify,

•  pacify,

•  placate