Synonyms for fundamental
- adjective
- noun
Most common
underlying basic radical simple essential important foundational
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Underlying — essential; extremely important
underlying, basic, radical, simple, elementary, plain, basal
3. Foundational
foundational, rudimentary, groundlaying rare
Other
constitutional, profound, primary, indispensable, original, organic
Noun
Definitions
- adj. 1
Essential; extremely important.
A need for belonging seems fundamental to humans.
- adj. 2
Related to a foundation, base, or basis; serving as a foundation.
- n. 1
A basic truth, elementary concept, principle, rule, or law. An individual fundamental will often serve as a building block used to form a complex idea.
Forms
- Plural
- fundamentals → bottoms…
Example sentences
- basic That game is easy, once you learn the basic rules.
- radical She has a very radical opinion about the problem.
- underlying What's the impetus underlying all of your actions?
- key I left a duplicate key to the room with my mother.
- essential Selfishness is an essential part of his character.
- foundational 1789 was a foundational year for France.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| fundamental | steady | |
| basic | falling | |
| radical | steady | |
| underlying | rising | |
| key | rising | |
| essential | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- key1
- 5 letters
- basic2, plain1, basal2
- 6 letters
- simple2, bottom2, primal2
- 7 letters
- central2, primary3, organic3, radical3
- 8 letters
- original4, cardinal3, profound2
- 9 letters
- important3, essential3, principal3
- 10 letters
- elementary4, underlying4
- 11 letters
- rudimentary5
- 12 letters
- foundational4, groundlaying
- 13 letters
- indispensable5
- 14 letters
- constitutional5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (basic2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- fondamental
- Italiano
- fondamentale
- Español
- fundamental
- Català
- fonamental