Thesaurus results for GROUND ZERO

ground zero

noun

Definition of ground zero

as in center

a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 ground zero Sanders is nonetheless arriving in Michigan with national Democrats more determined than ever to steer the party in a more pragmatic direction, effectively making the state ground zero for a proxy fight over progressive politics. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026 At the time, school board meetings nationwide were ground zero for culture war battles over LGBTQ policies, wearing masks and book bans. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 The game was a scapegoat for the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, ground zero of America’s ongoing nightmare. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026 Pepper plays Coach, a former NYPD police officer and 9/11 first responder suffering from leukemia, a result of his work at ground zero. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ground zero

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground zero

Noun

Balancing functionality with the brand’s house codes, the bag features two spacious compartments and a zippered one in the center.

— Talia Abbas, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Sunday marked the grand opening of the center's Community Baby Closet, which offers resources such as diapers, wipes, newborn clothing, baby gear and postpartum supplies.

— Christa Swanson, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of center

Noun

Iran’s economy was in a poor state before the war too, with dire economic conditions a key driving factor behind the anti-regime demonstrations which kicked off in the Iranian capital Tehran in 2025.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
As the world has become less secure, Lagarde said on Wednesday, capital flows into Europe have been put at risk.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of capital

Noun

The targets weren't oil refineries, maritime hubs or arms plants hit by other Ukrainian strikes, but warehouses that bring the convenience of online shopping across the breadth of Russia.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
For the first time in almost a month, a large tanker last week began loading crude at the western terminal of Iran’s main export hub Kharg Island, Windward said.

— Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of hub

Noun

The popular theatre was a cultural mecca that drew thousands to its operas, ballets and other public events, and hosted legendary greats including Maria Callas and Franco Zeffirelli.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
The long-standing problem is that Skid Row is both a social service center and a mecca of drugs and other vices, with traps on every block.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of mecca

Noun

Moving away from a retrospective punishment mechanism appealed to Portsmouth too, as did the shift to a focus on liquidity, something which meshes with the aims of the independent football regulator, which recently came into operation in England.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
In the last few years, Penn State’s singular focus – to win a national championship – clouded everything else.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of focus

Noun

Even the base Luxury King and Luxury Two Queen weigh in at around 650 square feet, with a step-down living area that makes work trips feel less like working out of your bedroom.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
At first base during the second half, the Mets have mostly started Young, who has played well.

— Will Sammon, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of base

Noun

The researchers used an experiment at RHIC called STAR (Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC) to pinpoint the baryon number’s transport between particles by looking at collisions of two heavy nuclei, ruthenium and zirconium.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026
These collisions will be used to examine how fundamental particles and forces produce the properties of protons, neutrons and nuclei.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of nucleus

Noun

Sangare was one of the core players of the Lens side who pushed Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain hard for the French title last season, eventually coming up six points short.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
The cryptocurrency exchange told Fortune that bitcoin’s core infrastructure is largely safe, adding that the real vulnerability is at the wallet level.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of core

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ground zero

ground zeros

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“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20zero. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ground zero

noun

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