Synonyms of core

core

noun

ˈkȯr 

1

as in heart

the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions

in my very core I knew that an injustice was being committed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• heart
• soul
• bone(s)
• mind
• gut
• bosom
• breast
• inner space
• inside
• blood
• belly
• quick
• conscience
• heartstrings

2

as in center

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

the capitol building is the core of the political life of the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

3

as in essence

the central part or aspect of something under consideration

at last, we come to the core of the issue that has been dividing us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• heart
• essence
• root
• kernel
• point
• nucleus
• sum
• meat
• pivot
• crux
• centerpiece
• bottom line
• sum and substance
• gist
• nub
• net
• pith
• theme
• keynote
• subject
• the long and short
• tenor
• content
• direction
• course
• bull's-eye
• body
• substance
• nubbin
• meat and potatoes
• thesis
• drift
• hypothesis
• proposition
• purport

4

as in body

the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts

a starfish can even survive the division of its core into two parts; both halves then regenerate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• body
• bulk
• weight
• majority
• essence
• staple
• main
• chief
• mass
• whole
• entirety
• bottom
• heart
• nature
• root
• burden
• center
• middle
• substance
• focus
• brunt
• generality
• kernel
• amount
• sum
• nucleus
• matter
• heft
• total
• soul
• subject
• meat
• totality
• aggregate
• marrow
• quantum
• hub
• theme
• topic
• stuff
• seat
• sum total
• text
• argument
• motif
• essentiality
• pitch
• quintessence
• point
• pith
• crux
• nut
• gist
• nub
• affair
• purport

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extension
• component
• element
• part
• section
• constituent
• ingredient
• segment
• accessory
• piece
• appendage
• adjunct
• offshoot
• division
• side
• quality
• feature
• aspect
• angle
• facet

5

as in midst

an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface

the mountain rises from ground that is almost precisely at the island's core

Synonyms & Similar Words

• midst
• center
• middle
• interior
• midpoint
• inside

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• periphery
• perimeter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of core

Now the Giants feature a core of young guys up front not merely loaded with talent, but possibilities. — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026

By the time that happens, Vea might not be worth his lucrative contract and could even hinder Las Vegas from building around a young core. — Sam Warren, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

The equity financing business is kind of doing the same thing at its core, just for different client segments. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026

Chicago is, to its core, a music city, with a heritage that extends far beyond the reputation of, say, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026