Synonyms of base

base 1 of 3

verb

as in to ground

to find a basis

she based her argument on careful research

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ground
• predicate
• rest
• found
• hang
• establish
• presume
• premise
• postulate
• suppose
• presuppose
• assume

base

2 of 3

noun

ˈbās 

1

as in basis

an immaterial thing upon which something else rests

the firm belief that complete trust between partners is the base of any successful marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

2

as in camp

a place from which an advance (as for military operations) is made

the army's base of attack was kept top secret until the battle began

Synonyms & Similar Words

• camp
• center
• foothold
• station
• fortress
• bridgehead
• stronghold
• headquarters
• field
• front
• installation
• footing
• emplacement
• bastion
• beachhead
• staging area
• airbase
• staging ground
• fastness
• toehold
• battlefront

3

as in center

a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest

the base of the industry is California's Silicon Valley

Synonyms & Similar Words

• center
• capital
• hub
• mecca
• core
• seat
• nucleus
• focus
• heart
• locus
• central
• nexus
• ground zero
• axis
• headquarters
• playground
• navel
• nerve center
• epicenter
• omphalos
• where it's at
• eye
• cynosure
• hot spot
• hive
• kernel
• attraction
• essence
• magnet
• hotbed
• nub
• thick
• pith
• happy hunting ground
• deep
• playland
• quintessence
• soul
• polestar
• lodestone

4

as in bottom

the lowest part, place, or point

the base of the mountain extends over a huge area

make sure the base of the stove rests evenly on the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bottom
• foot
• foundation
• basement
• basis
• ground
• seat
• bedrock
• bed
• rock bottom
• nadir
• keystone
• underpinning
• groundwork

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• top
• head
• vertex
• height
• peak
• tip
• apex
• summit
• crest
• pinnacle
• climax
• zenith
• meridian
• culmination
• acme
• tip-top

5

as in headquarters

the place from which a commander runs operations

the army base is three miles down the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

• headquarters
• command
• home
• command post
• seat

base

3 of 3

adjective

1

as in vile

not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency

a base and sneaky act that is a clear violation of international law

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vile
• dirty
• nasty
• immoral
• low
• corrupt
• vicious
• ignoble
• bad
• detestable
• mean
• paltry
• cruel
• low-down
• ignominious
• sordid
• contemptible
• dishonorable
• evil
• execrable
• snide
• wrong
• wretched
• despicable
• foul
• currish
• wicked
• low-minded
• degenerate
• villainous
• iniquitous
• debased
• miscreant
• perverted
• dissolute
• reprehensible
• depraved
• unworthy
• atrocious
• debauched
• censurable
• blameworthy
• unscrupulous
• unprincipled
• blamable
• unethical
• disgraceful
• shameful
• disreputable
• discreditable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• straight
• lofty
• noble
• upright
• right
• venerable
• just
• moral
• proper
• virtuous
• ethical
• excellent
• honorable
• good
• honest
• righteous
• principled
• exemplary
• decent
• scrupulous
• respectable
• commendable
• reputable
• high-minded
• blameless
• right-minded
• guiltless
• irreproachable
• unerring
• incorruptible
• seemly
• uncorrupted

2

as in humble

showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness

their base obedience to every unprincipled action ordered by their leader

Synonyms & Similar Words

• humble
• abject
• servile
• meek
• menial
• slavish
• modest
• retiring
• hangdog
• unassuming
• lowly
• sheepish
• fawning
• sycophantic
• lamblike
• unpretentious
• toadyish
• demure
• sycophant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• superior
• arrogant
• haughty
• lordly
• supercilious
• imperious
• uppity
• high-handed

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective base contrast with its synonyms?

The words low and vile are common synonyms of base. While all three words mean "deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values," base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.

base motives

When is low a more appropriate choice than base?

The meanings of low and base largely overlap; however, low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety.

refused to listen to such low talk

Where would vile be a reasonable alternative to base?

In some situations, the words vile and base are roughly equivalent. However, vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.

a vile remark

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of base

Verb

Schultz said about 60% of California's Inventoried Roadless Areas have a high or very high risk rating for potential catastrophic wildfire, based on the agency's analysis. — Conor McGill, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Pitt Street Productions comes to the adaptation after producing Amazon’s #1 summer hit The Last Sunrise, based on the novel by Anna Todd, alongside Luber Roklin Entertainment and Ethea Entertainment. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026

Noun

Either method helps melt concealer into the skin without disturbing your base or lifting flaky patches. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026

Marble Coffee To replicate this unique and eye-catching take on the espresso brown manicure, start by painting your nails a soft cream base. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 18 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Yamaha The base variant starts at INR 230,000, which works out to US$2,407. — Yamaha, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

In Tuesday’s filing, Apple didn’t say how much the executives may also receive in cash bonuses, though those are usually valued at about double the base salary. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing base

• off base
• touch base (with)