Critical
Critical adjective - Needing immediate attention.
Usage example: this problem isn't critical, so we can go home now and tend to it in the morning
Vital is a synonym for critical in crucial topic. In some cases you can use "Vital" instead an adjective "Critical", when it comes to topics like necessity, important, indispensable, urgently important. popular alternative
Vital
Vital adjective - Impossible to do without.
Usage example: I forgot one vital ingredient, and now the biscuits taste strange
Critical is a synonym for vital in important topic. You can use "Critical" instead an adjective "Vital", if it concerns topics such as essential, property, necessity, indispensable. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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Undead and Gelatinous Cubes obviously lack vital organs and therefore can't be hit for critical damage.
Source: Critical Hit -
This is because D&D justifies critical hits as being regular attacks that hit an unprotected point or vital organ.
Source: Critical Hit - Luck is the last stat in Fallout's SPECIAL system, and vital if you want to get a lot of critical hits or beneficial random encounters.
Source: Luck Stat
Cite this Source
Vital and Critical. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/critical/vital
Critical & Vital. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/critical/vital>.
Vital or Critical. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/critical/vital.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "critical" and "vital" have occurred on timeline