basal

adjective

ˈbā-səl How to pronounce basal (audio)
Definition of basalnext
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

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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 Throughout the day, adenosine gradually accumulates as a byproduct of brain activity, increasing feelings of sleepiness by inhibiting wake-promoting regions such as the basal forebrain. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2026 None are toxic, but check for hollow single stems, milky sap and a basal rosette before any of it hits your cutting board. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026 Over the past 25 years, the idea of implanting electrodes deep within the brain and using them to stimulate a particular region, known as the basal ganglia, has emerged as a novel treatment for patients with advanced forms of Parkinson’s disease. — David Cox, Wired News, 28 Apr. 2026 With spasmodic dysphonia, the area of your brain responsible for involuntary muscle movement, called the basal ganglia, is affected. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for basal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for basal
  1. basic
  2. elementary
  3. rudimentary
  4. introductory
  5. underlying
  6. fundamental
Adjective
  • Attacks on ships — and the threat of them — virtually halted traffic in the waterway during the conflict, causing the price of oil to skyrocket and raising prices on many basic goods, including food, far beyond the region.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • If your bathroom has a basic flush mount, don’t be afraid to replace it with something more eye-catching, like a sputnik chandelier or a lantern pendant.
    — Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
Definition of basic
Adjective
  • Children ages 6-11, in the early elementary years, are still developing socially.
    — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • Nelson is an accomplished educational leader with more than 20 years of experience across elementary, middle, and high school settings.
    — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026
Definition of elementary
Adjective
  • Ong cited case studies by the neuropsychologist Alexander Luria, who traveled to remote villages in Uzbekistan and Kirghizia in the 1930s, when peasants were starting to receive rudimentary reading and writing instruction.
    — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • As international rescue teams depart and officials shift to rebuilding, Venezuelan families in La Guaira are left to recover bodies on their own, using only rudimentary tools and bare hands.
    — Fernanda Pesce, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of rudimentary
Adjective
  • Weist herself appears in a brief introductory clip before the performance proper.
    — Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The Heat is expected to hold Antetokounmpo’s introductory press conference on July 16.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
Definition of introductory
Adjective
  • The Discipline Underneath All leaders recognize the impact and risks of sharing information strategically, but great leaders know not to underestimate the underlying human emotion.
    — Anna Jankowska, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • The underlying conditions are unlikely to change, with Jeffries stressing in a recent interview that his average contribution came from a small donor.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of underlying
Adjective
  • Meantime, earnings forecasts have soared, largely but not exclusively on the back of the AI-equipment bottleneck, providing plenty of fundamental cover for the tape.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • All of these detention facilities have in common a fundamental disregard for our health and well-being.
    — Brady Tillett, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Definition of fundamental

Browse Nearby Words

barters (for)
basal
base
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Cite this Entry

“Basal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/basal. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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