Synonyms of cornerstone

cornerstone

noun

ˈkȯr-nər-ˌstōn 

as in basis

an immaterial thing upon which something else rests

a concern for basic human rights was the cornerstone of the president's foreign policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• basis
• foundation
• bedrock
• groundwork
• keystone
• justification
• root
• core
• base
• ground
• framework
• underpinning
• premise
• theory
• support
• footing
• focus
• essence
• warp
• warp and woof
• bottom
• infrastructure
• backbone
• center
• assumption
• rationale
• heart
• shore
• substratum
• mount
• bed
• thesis
• presumption
• kernel
• prop
• anchorage
• warrant
• substructure
• bulwark
• nucleus
• hub
• stay
• brace
• buttress
• presupposition
• supposition
• touchstone
• seat
• soul
• eye
• quintessence

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cornerstone

As a San Diego native, Barcenas is the kind of player general manager and sporting director Camille Ashton has to be looking to as a cornerstone for the Wave for years to come. — Karan Lodha, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

That's why expanding access to maternal care is a cornerstone of my Patients' First health care plan. — Louisa Moller, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

In fact, sports fans in general were baffled that Dončić would be teaming up with LeBron James out west, while the Mavericks traded away their franchise cornerstone. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Released 20 years ago this week, the horror novel by Max Brooks quickly became one of the undisputed cornerstones of walking dead canon. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026