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Definition of indispensable adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

 

indispensable

 adjective
adjective
NAmE//ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbl//
 
 
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too important to be without synonym essential Cars have become an indispensable part of our lives. indispensable to somebody/something She made herself indispensable to the department. indispensable for something/for doing something A good dictionary is indispensable for learning a foreign language. opposite dispensable Thesaurusessential
  • vital
  • crucial
  • critical
  • decisive
  • indispensable
These words all describe someone or something that is extremely important and completely necessary because a particular situation or activity depends on them.
  • essential extremely important and completely necessary, because without it something cannot exist, be made, or be successful:Experience is essential for this job.
  • vital essential:The police play a vital role in our society.
essential or vital?
  • These words have the same meaning but there can be a slight difference in tone. Essential is used to state a fact or an opinion with authority. Vital is often used when there is some anxiety felt about something, or a need to persuade someone that a fact or an opinion is true, right, or important. Vital is less often used in negative statements:It was vital to show that he was not afraid. Money is not vital to happiness.
  • crucial extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:It is crucial that we get this right.
  • critical extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:Your decision is critical to our future.
crucial or critical?These words have the same meaning but there can be a slight difference in context. Critical is often used in technical matters of business or science;crucial is often used to talk about matters that may cause anxiety or other emotions.
  • decisive of the greatest importance in affecting the final result of a particular situation:She played a decisive role in the peace negotiations.
  • indispensable essential; too important to be without:This database has become an indispensable resource in our research.
Patterns
  • essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable for something
  • essential/vital/crucial/critical/indispensable to something
  • essential/vital/crucial/critical that…
  • essential/vital/crucial/critical to do something
  • a(n) essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable part/role/factor
  • of vital/crucial/critical/decisive >importance>
  • absolutely essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable
Language Bankvitalsaying that something is necessary
  • It is vital that journalists are able to verify the accuracy of their reports.
  • Journalists play a vital/crucial role in educating the public.
  • Public trust is a crucial issue for all news organizations.
  • The ability to write well is essential for any journalist.
  • The Internet has become an indispensable tool for reporters.
  • In journalism, accuracy is paramount. / …is of paramount importance.
  • It is imperative that journalists maintain the highest possible standards of reporting.
See indispensable in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary