elemental

adjective

ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce elemental (audio)
Definition of elementalnext
as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject even if you're not planning on becoming a scientist, you should have an elemental knowledge of chemistry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 elemental At the very tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is an integral part of its elemental landscape. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026 And Quentin Collette’s turbulent soundscape — rumbling, clanking, with the unrelenting downpour stirring in elemental fury — mixes seamlessly with the tense synth riffs of French electronic composer Robin Coudert, known professionally as ROB. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 In the sixties, artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Peter Saul had plundered lowbrow visual culture for elemental materials. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 Today, most toilet paper is produced using elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching, which relies on chlorine dioxide instead of chlorine gas. — Jillian Pretzel, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elemental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elemental
  1. basic
  2. elementary
  3. rudimentary
  4. introductory
  5. fundamental
Adjective
  • But the pueblo blanco of Casares makes a good day trip, though meals are on the basic side in the town’s restaurants and cafes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Off-duty models stepped out in nonchalant style, pairing the jeans with basic tops and simple belts, while fashion show attendees elevated the laidback fits with button-down denim shirts, neckties and colorful knitwear.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of basic
Adjective
  • Some of those had major errors, like a hand with six fingers and clocks with numbers in the wrong places, both of which were approved lesson plans for elementary classrooms.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Saint followed her sister to Bowling Green State University in Ohio and majored in elementary education.
    — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of elementary
Adjective
  • The kitchenette is rudimentary with a mini fridge, stovetop (no oven), a sink, and a few cooking essentials, including two different coffee makers.
    — Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This sort of classification task is something that rudimentary AI, or machine learning systems, have handled for decades.
    — Wen Shao, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rudimentary
Adjective
  • Could younger athletes attend an introductory session before formal evaluation?
    — Irma Davarashvili, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • But still, this felt different — as Gray himself noted in his moving introductory remarks, reflecting on growing up a few miles away from the Upper West Side.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of introductory
Adjective
  • The 2026 Nobel Prize for Chemistry has been awarded to Henri Kagan of the Universite Paris-Sud, in France, and Kenso Soai of the Tokyo University of Science, in Japan, for their work exploring the fundamental geometry of molecules.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Unless there's a dramatic fundamental change in the dynamic, Democrats are on pace to capture the Senate and House majorities in November.
    — Nathan Gonzales CQ-Roll Call, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of fundamental

Browse Nearby Words

element
elemental
elementally
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Cite this Entry

“Elemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elemental. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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