base 1 of 3

as in to ground
to find a basis she based her argument on careful research

Synonyms & Similar Words

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base

2 of 3

noun

1
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

3
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in headquarters
the place from which a commander runs operations the army base is three miles down the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

base

3 of 3

adjective

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

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 base
Verb
The New York Times #1 bestseller was based on her one-woman show of the same name. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2025 Queen Elizabeth’s arrival in Miami will mark the first of two winter seasons that it’s based at PortMiami. Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
The base is a sheer pale pink, which provides a lovely contrast against the vivid aqua tone of the tips, and the sparkle really takes it to the next level. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 13 Oct. 2025 Breda, who was watching a live feed with Yeomans from an unmarked car at the base of North Head, has touted this as the operation’s eureka moment. Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Focusing more on extra-base power was his reaction to that drop-off and the general increase in pitching quality, not the primary driver of that drop-off. Will Sammon, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 The state pays first-year teachers a base salary of $41,000, with average starting teacher pay in NC coming in at $42,542. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for base
Recent Examples of Synonyms for base
Verb
  • As Jeff and Arj stumble through each other’s lives, the timepieces highlight who’s in control, who’s grounded, and who’s scrambling.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
  • While his stock is rocketing around the world, the skateboarding sensation remains humble, grounded by those who know him best.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Corps officials will evaluate each request on a case by case basis.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The team earned more runs on the bases than any other, according to FanGraphs.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Steen learned about his Hall of Fame invitation during training camp.
    Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Wallenberg arrives five months after Nazi forces had begun to deport some 437,000 Jews from outside Budapest to camps such as Auschwitz.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Freshman Eva Karacalidis starred in her debut at center-mid, helping the Porkers apply a wealth of offensive pressure in an 11-shot first half.
    Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
  • From 2021 to March 2025, the Turgeau emergency center treated more than 100,000 patients.
    NPR, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In the second game of the series, Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a no-hitter until his last batter, Jackson Holiday, hit a home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The pastel hues are broken up at the bottom of this pair with burgundy rubber below the shoe’s signature Abzorb SBS cushioning pods.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Marty Muggle-Wump is part of the clever monkey duo determined to outsmart their vile captors, perfectly voiced by Timothy Simons.
    Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The vile, racist, bigoted, and antisemitic dialogue that has been reported is deeply disturbing.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Bold hues are the name of the game, whether this means going for the kind of saturated, chili pepper–adjacent red that flooded the runways of labels like Ferragamo or embracing autumn’s fascination with all things deep purple, courtesy of an earrings pair that pays homage to the humble eggplant.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
  • And Jacob, who’s so humble, Mia, and, of course, Christoph.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, the possibility of that rally continuing was predicated on stability in geopolitical risk, especially on trade.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The impending sense of doom isn't completely predicated on the Ravens' 1-3 start to the season.
    Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Base.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/base. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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