Synonyms of base

base 1 of 4

verb (1)

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 4

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 4

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

based

4 of 4

verb (2)

past tense of base

as in predicated

to find a basis

she based her argument on careful research

Synonyms & Similar Words

• predicated
• grounded
• rested
• founded
• established
• hung
• presumed
• premised
• postulated
• supposed
• assumed
• presupposed

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

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

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

For many years now, that increase has been automatic based on growth in the national average wage index. —Tom Margenau, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026

That was based on her VC knowledge that a woman’s company would need that to get funded. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026

Noun

Like, where the hell is our moon base? —David W. Brown, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026

The Jets will shift from a 4-3 base to multiple defensive formations that incorporate both 3-4 and 4-3 elements. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026

Adjective

The big difference is Kia offers it in a base FWD version that nearly tops the efficiency crown in the segment at 42 mpg. —Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026

And those costs are unlikely to balloon over the next few weeks, largely due to the fact that base oil is less volatile than crude oil, analysts noted. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026

Verb

The Empress, based between Greenwich, Connecticut, and Paris, remained socially enmeshed in Europe’s royal circles, but Reza stayed in the United States, completing a degree at the University of Southern California, and then living a suburban existence in Potomac, Maryland. —Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026

The amount beneficiaries receive varies based on several factors, including the number of people filing. —Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing base

• off base
• touch base (with)