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
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Recent Examples of elemental
From Sardinia comes this elemental pasta with a true taste of the sea.
—
Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 21 Apr. 2026
The Spa and Fitness center serves as a sleek counterpoint to the coast's rugged allure—a restorative ritual against the elemental drama outside.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
If your soil is too alkaline, use elemental sulfur or another organic soil acidifier to lower the soil pH as needed.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026
Look for elemental magnesium on the Supplement Facts panel, not total compound weight.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elemental
Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 21 Apr. 2026
The Spa and Fitness center serves as a sleek counterpoint to the coast's rugged allure—a restorative ritual against the elemental drama outside.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
If your soil is too alkaline, use elemental sulfur or another organic soil acidifier to lower the soil pH as needed.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026
Look for elemental magnesium on the Supplement Facts panel, not total compound weight.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elemental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elemental
Adjective
-
Then again, the novel, a worldly form and rather proud of it, has good reason not to question the basic terms of our existence.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Instead of bigger SUVs or higher trims — versions of a model with more features and elevated prices — many shoppers are sticking with simpler options like compact sedans, entry-level pickups or the most basic version on the dealer's lot.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
The law also creates a discipline process for preschool and elementary students where there was none before.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Yet many of its students aren’t demonstrating even an elementary grasp of free speech.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Embracing a visual vocabulary of the lowbrow and the rudimentary is a tried-and-true method of rebelling against a culture that feels vapid or corporatized.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
6 May 2026
-
The builders demonstrated a rudimentary understanding of engineering, deliberately placing each bone to exploit its natural geometry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
That archive of prints is in the process of being broken up for sale, and a few hundred of those boxes, including this set of 36 prints plus a clutch of introductory material and captions, have made their way to Daniel/Oliver, a gallery in East Williamsburg.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
28 Apr. 2026
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At Fudd’s introductory press conference with the Wings on April 16, she was asked to comment on her off-court connection with Bueckers by a local reporter.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The fundamental constants that determine the masses, charges, and interaction strengths between particles are universal as well.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 May 2026
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And so there's a fundamental lack of opportunity to learn the soft skills that a white collar employee needs.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elemental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elemental. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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