paramount
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “paramount” mean?
adjective.more important than anything else; supreme.
SAT Usage
the term often appears in passages discussing leadership, ethics, or priorities, emphasizing the idea of ultimate importance or priority in decision-making. It implies a sense of urgency and necessity that goes beyond mere significance, contrasting with words like "important" or "notable," which do not carry the same weight of supremacy or critical importance.
Common Confusions
Paramount implies the highest level of importance and urgency, while significant usually suggests a noteworthy impact without the same critical necessity or supremacy.
Do not choose paramount if the context emphasizes triviality or insignificance rather than being more important than anything else or supreme.
Example Sentences
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Getting those credit cards paid off is paramount.
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Safety is paramount on the job site.