IMPORTANCE Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'importance' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of importance are consequence , moment , significance , and weight . While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone. // a region with no cities of importance

Q: When can 'consequence' be used instead of 'importance'?

The words consequence and importance can be used in similar contexts, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects. // the style you choose is of little consequence

Q: In what contexts can 'moment' take the place of 'importance'?

The words moment and importance are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence. // a decision of great moment

Q: When would 'significance' be a good substitute for 'importance'?

While the synonyms significance and importance are close in meaning, significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized. // the treaty's significance

Q: When is 'weight' a more appropriate choice than 'importance'?

The synonyms weight and importance are sometimes interchangeable, but weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something. // the argument carried no weight with the judge

importance

noun

im-ˈpȯr-tᵊn(t)s

Definition of importance

as in significance

the quality or state of being important a final exam has great importance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun importance differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of importance are consequence, moment, significance, and weight. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

When can consequence be used instead of importance?

The words consequence and importance can be used in similar contexts, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

In what contexts can moment take the place of importance?

The words moment and importance are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

When would significance be a good substitute for importance?

While the synonyms significance and importance are close in meaning, significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

When is weight a more appropriate choice than importance?

The synonyms weight and importance are sometimes interchangeable, but weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

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 importance Of primary importance to Child’s readers, Jack Reacher is gigantic. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026 Williams also recognized the importance of finding new role models for this chapter of her career. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 For LeoList, these trends reinforce the importance of localized, searchable, French-language classifieds experiences that reflect how Quebec users already browse, compare and respond to listings online. — Ascend Agency, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 The war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia have increased Kazakhstan’s importance as a provider of oil and other raw materials to Europe, a position that the war’s expansion to ports on the Black Sea is now threatening. — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for importance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for importance

Noun

Chris Levesque, TerraPower president and CEO, stressed the deal’s significance for the company.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Abdurrahman Amer, a festival official, noted the significance of the exhibition.

— Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of significance

Noun

China’s imports of LNG from Russia across all routes surged nearly 28% in the first half of the year by volume as LNG exports from the Middle East froze due to the US-Iran war.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Japan's core consumer inflation remained above the central bank's 2% target for a third straight month in June, as the economy faced pressure from high global raw material prices that have pushed up the cost of the country's imports.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of import

Noun

This frantic race risks sacrificing AI safety, cutting corners, and increasing risk tolerance, potentially leading to more severe consequences than intended.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
The influencer had amassed 50,000 followers, but not by respecting the boundaries of personal space — let alone the legal consequences of non-consensual filming inside a changing room.

— Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of consequence

Noun

The team reports that as nearly an order-of-magnitude improvement over previous comparable ferromagnetic Hall sensors.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
In December of 1992, a magnitude 7 earthquake caused a tsunami that killed about 2,500 people on the southeastern island of Flores, part of a group of islands in the eastern half of Indonesia.

— Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of magnitude

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“Importance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/importance. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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