EN

Synonyms for gist

  • noun
  • verb

Most common

sum core substance pith essence thrust

Synonyms by meaning

Noun

1. Sum — the main idea or substance, or the most essential part, of a longer or more complicated matter; the crux, the…

sum, core, substance, pith, kernel, nitty-gritty informal, nub, crux, spirit, heart, stuff, marrow, tenor, meat, effect, purport, heart and soul, soul, drift, force, center US CA, centre UK, import

2. Essence

essence, thrust, quintessence

Other

run-through, heartstring dated rare

Verb

1. Condense — to extract and present the main ideas or substance, or the most essential parts of (a document, piece of…

precis, condense

Antonyms

minutiae

All antonyms of gist →

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    The main idea or substance, or the most essential part, of a longer or more complicated matter; the crux, the heart, the pith.

    I don't wanna belabor my point; I'm sure you get the gist.

  2. n. 2

    The essential ground for action in a lawsuit, without which there is no cause of action; the gravamen.

  3. v. 1

    To extract and present the main ideas or substance, or the most essential parts of (a document, piece of writing, etc.); to abridge, to summarize.

Forms

Plural
gists → sums, cores, substances, piths…
Past participle
gisted
e.g. gisted → precised, condensed…

Example sentences

  • crux The crux of his argument can be found on p. 56.
  • nub The nub of the dispute was unknown but its results were easy to predict.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
giststeady
cruxsteady
nubrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
sum1, nub1
4 letters
soul1, core1, meat1, crux1, pith1
5 letters
heart1, force1, stuff1, drift1, tenor2
6 letters
center2, effect2, centre2, spirit2, import2, thrust1, kernel2, marrow2, precis2
7 letters
essence2, purport2
8 letters
condense2
9 letters
substance2
11 letters
heartstring
12 letters
quintessence3

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (tenor2 = 2 syllables).