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

Daniele Hamamdjian Daniele Hamamdjian is an NBC foreign correspondent based in London. —Phil Helsel, NBC news, 10 May 2026

The film, which begins streaming on Netflix May 8, is based on the bestselling novel by Shelby Van Pelt. —Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026

Noun

It was moved a day later to a naval base on the mainland for inspection and the explosives were later destroyed, according to Greece’s public broadcaster, ERT. —ABC News, 12 May 2026

The die-offs were ultimately linked to cascading failures at the base of the food web, where warming waters disrupted plankton populations and sent ripple effects through fish, seabirds and marine mammals, according to the park service. —Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 12 May 2026

Adjective

That base level of renewables is reducing demand for fossil fuels in the utilities sector. —Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 6 May 2026

McArn, a 30-year district veteran who had served in the role on an interim basis since February, will earn a base salary of $365,000 annually through June 2028. —Sacbee.com, 2 May 2026

Phrases Containing base

• off base
• touch base (with)