base 1 of 6

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

base

2 of 6

noun (1)

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 6

adjective

bases

4 of 6

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of base
as in grounds
to find a basis she based her argument on careful research

Synonyms & Similar Words

bases

5 of 6

noun (2)

plural of base
1
2
3
4
5
as in homes
the place from which a commander runs operations the army base is three miles down the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

bases

6 of 6

noun (3)

plural of basis

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
But it was meant to be private initially based on my conversations. NBC news, 3 May 2026 The program is based on previous competitions that successfully implemented solutions for other challenges, such as the development and implementation of a way to speed up a federal computer model, VanZomeren said. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Noun
The supply chain expansion aligns with Burlington’s desires to keep growing its store base. Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2026 The formula pairs a deeper-cleansing base with glycerin, honey, and nourishing oils like coconut, avocado, and argan to lift buildup without that stripped, dry feeling that can trigger frizz. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Mirikitani, who died in 2012, was a street artist in the basest sense. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 Apr. 2026 At the opening of the base expansion in April last year, Prime Minister Hun Manet specifically denied these allegations, declaring that the expansion wasn't hidden from other countries. ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
Mitchell bases his assessment on a poll released last week by state Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks, part of an effort to pressure low-polling Democratic candidates to step out of the race. Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026 IMDBPro bases its Top 100 most-popular list on the page views of the more than 250 million monthly visitors to IMDb worldwide. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for base
Recent Examples of Synonyms for base
Adjective
  • The bleak tortures Ohm concocts for his characters are as vile as the Bilberry’s fetid jacuzzi.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • There’s something vile, yet attractive about the film, an encapsulation of the fact that people and the internet are downright weird.
    Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In terms of all-time hero's journeys, his is up there, from his humble beginnings on Tatooine to learning of his sinister dad to becoming a Jedi master to sacrificing himself to help the Resistance.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 May 2026
  • But on a recent afternoon, in the basement reading room, Joshua Cochran, the library’s curator of American history, reached into one of a dozen archival boxes loaded on a cart and carefully unwrapped a humbler item — a paper cup imprinted with the image of Paul Revere’s lantern.
    New York Times, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • The drinks attract younger women, typically age 16 to 35, and are aimed at health-conscious customers that don’t want Swig’s more caloric and filling dirty sodas, CEO Alex Dunn said.
    Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
  • That wasn’t the only utensil stored in a dirty place.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • During the Braves’ recent trip to Philadelphia, Kyle Farmer came down with a nasty illness possibly brought on by norovirus.
    Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 1 May 2026
  • Mfume has not joined in the negative attack game, but Conway, like other failing candidates, has decided his only political pathway is simply to run a nasty and divisive campaign.
    Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Each side views members of the other party not as merely having a different view on politics but rather as evil or immoral.
    James Piazza, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Pope Francis changed the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.
    Nicole Winfield, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The group, originally signed to RCA Records, released two albums of bustling synth pop and opened for Harry Styles in the late twenty-tens but was cast off in the early days of the pandemic owing to low sales.
    Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
  • Senators Chris Murphy and Ruben Gallego have spoken publicly about wanting to pursue this, and Bedoya notes that there’s precedent for this action, citing Democrats’ recent introduction of a bill to break up the meatpacking industry to create lower prices for consumers.
    Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Other methods of sneaking contraband into a prison include throwing it over a facility’s fence, coordinating through the mail and, in some cases, involving corrupt corrections officers.
    Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
  • Assessor Gus Kramer stayed in office when a jury deadlocked on a civil grand jury accusation of willful or corrupt misconduct in office.
    East Bay Times editorial, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The betrayal of Zambada sparked a vicious battle for control of the Sinaloa cartel that has resulted in thousands of deaths.
    Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Back in 2023, he was suspended during the playoffs for a vicious cross-check to the head of Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.
    Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Base.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/base. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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