Definitions

essential

[uh-sen-shuhl] / əˈsɛn ʃəl /

ADJECTIVE

important, vital

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crucial fundamental imperative important indispensable main necessary needed vital

STRONG

capital cardinal chief leading prerequisite principal requisite

WEAK

constitutive foremost must-have necessitous needful required right-hand wanted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

auxiliary extra inessential minor needless nonessential optional secondary subordinate trivial unimportant unnecessary voluntary

STRONG

inferior

WEAK

accessory atypical subsidiary

ADJECTIVE

basic, fundamental

Synonyms

STRONGEST

absolute constitutional elemental inherent intrinsic key main underlying

STRONG

cardinal cold ideal material nitty-gritty nub perfect primary prime primitive principal

WEAK

basal bottom-line complete congenital connate deep-seated elementary inborn inbred innate meat-and-potatoes quintessential substratal

Antonyms

STRONGEST

acquired extrinsic incidental inessential insignificant learned nonessential secondary unimportant

STRONG

flawed imperfect minor wrong

WEAK

accessory atypical auxiliary subsidiary

NOUN

necessity, basic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

condition element essence fundamental must precondition prerequisite principle requirement requisite

STRONG

ABCs groceries guts heart nitty-gritty quintessence rudiment stuff substance

WEAK

bottom line brass tacks fire and ice meat and potatoes name of the game nuts and bolts part and parcel sine qua non vital part where one's at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

extra

WEAK

accessory auxiliary nonessential subsidiary throwaway

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Scientists at Aarhus University have overturned a long-standing assumption about how life's essential ingredients emerge.

From Science Daily

Some other essential privacy tools provided by NordVPN include a kill switch that instantly blocks your internet if your VPN disconnects.

From Salon

These rivers, which are essential to environmental preservation, are particularly threatened in Albania and Bosnia.

From Barron's

Spectrum refers to a range of radio frequencies essential for electronic communication.

From The Wall Street Journal

Because such particles can escape into space and pose risks to satellites, astronauts, and even technologies on Earth, understanding their behavior is essential for predicting space weather.

From Science Daily

essential

Example Sentences

Related Words