BASAL Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

basal

adjective

ˈbā-səl

Definition of basal

as in basic

of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject many students lacked even a basal familiarity with the topic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of basal On the other hand, Silphium terebinthinaceum has basal foliage that stays close to the ground while its inflorescence is wildly airy. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026 Your eyes constantly produce a thin layer of basal tears to keep the cornea lubricated, and the duct quietly shuttles that trickle into the nose, where it’s absorbed or blended into normal nasal mucus without a trace. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 If dopamine neurons in the basal ganglia degenerate as happens in Parkinson’s disease, movements become harder to initiate and slower once they are commenced. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 Plants produce a basal rosette of downy foliage in their first year and flower in the second season, after which the plants typically die out. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for basal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for basal

Adjective

Goertz took Birdsall's basic ideas and refined them into something far more cohesive, blending the visual extravagance of 1950s America with a distinctly European sense of proportion.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026
That in turn feeds ‘The Ticker’, the basic on-screen representation of the score and ‘The Computer’, another programme that turns that raw information into the more intricate graphics that appear on the screen.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of basic

Adjective

Martha has the rare superhuman instincts required to keep both the class and the mess in harmonious balance, and watching her walk into RHONY is like watching a prima ballerina lead an elementary-school dance class.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
As long as the elementary principles of supply-and-demand continue to hold sway, the invisible hand of the marketplace will keep on flipping the bird to the naysayers.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of elementary

Adjective

Within these confines the main characters register as aliens; Wendy and Jack aren’t just flustered but people who seem to have never been inculcated with a rudimentary sense of social propriety.

— Vadim Rizov, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Using rudimentary 3-D animation tools, the film looks janky, with sharp edges and bad editing.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of rudimentary

Adjective

Right now, RingCentral is running an introductory deal where businesses with fewer than 400 employees can switch to its service and get a full year absolutely free.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2026
After an introductory conversation, Nomo showed Bednar his grip for the pitch.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of introductory

Adjective

Chomsky’s influential criticism of behaviorist explanations of language helped turn scientific attention toward the mental processes underlying language acquisition and use.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Sep. 2026
Meanwhile, there are rising concerns about the potential cybersecurity risks posed by AI agents and their underlying foundation models, and the country faces a growing backlash against AI data centers and the companies that are building them.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of underlying

Adjective

That was not enough to save this team on Tuesday, but better fundamental decision-making just might have.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Because there is only so much spectrum to go around as a matter of fundamental physics, governments have historically managed it by issuing exclusive licenses – dedicating certain highways to specific users and telling everyone else to stay off.

— Aylin Yener, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of fundamental

Browse Nearby Words

barters (for)

basal

base

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Basal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/basal. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of basal

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

hobnob

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes