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• s  urgently needed; absolutely necessary
  vital for a healthy society
  of vital interest
• s  performing an essential function in the living body
  vital organs
  blood and other vital fluids
  the loss of vital heat in shock
  a vital spot
• s  full of spirit
  a vital and charismatic leader
• s  manifesting or characteristic of life
  a vital, living organism
  vital signs

• Interrogators had Corpsman check the detainee's vital signs.
• It was too risky at the time to remove the three-inch object, which did not pierce any vital parts of her brain.
• His level of hemoglobin--the vital, oxygen-carrying compound in his red cells--had plummeted from a normal reading of 13 to an ominous 1.

• critical
• life-sustaining
• full of life
• lively

News & Articles

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• Governor’s Budget Deprives Vital Care to Autistic Kids on Medi-Cal
   SAN FRANCISCO – Low-income parents who have children with autism are angry that state lawmakers have passed a budget that will deprive their offspring of vital services to treat their condition.“Unfortunately, the autism community got left out in the cold,”...
  June 15, 2013 - New America Media
• Bank of America and Vital Voices Help Create a Path to Leadership and Economic Development for Women Across Brazil
  Bank of America and Vital Voices have convened a mentoring forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which brings together several influential women from the public and private sector who are committed to women’s economic empowerment.
  June 12, 2013 - Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance
• Correction: Vital Statistics
  Vital statistics: A decree of legal separation was issued for James Carrillo and Anastasia Ramos. Incorrect information was listed in Vital Statistics on Page C4 on Tuesday.
  June 11, 2013 - The Columbian

Quotes

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• Edward Kennedy in Christian Science Monitor
  I strongly support the law and the principle that the people should elect their Senator,Kennedy wrote in a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, and Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo. "I also believe it is vital...
• Barack Obama in USA Today
  In his remarks at the Naval Air Station, Obama said he will "never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests."
• Pope Benedict XVI in TIME
  The concerns for nonviolence, sustainable development, justice and peace, and care for our environment are of vital importance for humanity,Benedict told the crowd.