Meaning & use

groundbreaking

adjective·Academic

Introducing new ideas or methods that mark a significant and original advance in a field.

See it in a sentence

The scientist's groundbreaking research changed how doctors treat the disease.

Critics praised the film for its groundbreaking special effects at the time.

A note on using this word

Groundbreaking is a strong, positive word, best reserved for genuinely significant or original achievements rather than minor improvements.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

conventionalunoriginal

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