Critical
Critical adjective - Of the greatest possible importance.
Usage example: this is the critical exam that will largely determine your college career
Essential is a synonym for critical in necessity topic. In some cases you can use "Essential" instead the word "Critical" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like vital, crucial.
Essential
Essential adjective - Impossible to do without.
Usage example: a well-stocked public library is essential for the well-being of a community
Critical is a synonym for essential in vital topic. You can use "Critical" instead an adjective "Essential", if it concerns topics such as necessity, crucial, central.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- important and critical
- important and essential
- necessary and critical
- necessary and essential
- imperative and critical
- imperative and essential
- indispensable and critical
- indispensable and essential
- requisite and critical
- requisite and essential
- vital and critical
- vital and essential
- key and critical
- key and essential
Both words in one sentence
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This had the effect of getting many relatively harmless intellectuals into trouble, but the Inquisition's role in preventing the outbreak of Protestantism in Spain has been called everything from 'marginal but useful' to 'critical and essential'.
- They are usually an obstacle or antagonist, causing the heroes to have to do without essential goods, or worse have the essential goods fail at a critical moment.
Source: Corrupt Quartermaster -
Critical hits are essential to Warriors and Rogues' special attacks in Dragon Age: Origins, since many special effects (like stun, knock-down, bleeding, etc.) are only triggered if the special attack lands a critical hit.
Source: Critical Hit
Cite this Source
Essential and Critical. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/critical/essential
Critical & Essential. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/critical/essential>.
Essential or Critical. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/critical/essential.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "critical" and "essential" have occurred on timeline