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fundamental

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fundamental different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of fundamental are cardinal, essential, and vital. While all these words mean "so important as to be indispensable," fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse.

fundamental principles of algebra

When might cardinal be a better fit than fundamental?

The words cardinal and fundamental can be used in similar contexts, but cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends.

a cardinal rule in buying a home

When would essential be a good substitute for fundamental?

Although the words essential and fundamental have much in common, essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

conflict is essential in drama

When could vital be used to replace fundamental?

The words vital and fundamental are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation.

cut off from vital supplies

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 fundamental
Noun
Control, permission for use, and compensation is a fundamental right of these workers. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025 The committee’s careful message discipline paid off, and news headlines focused more on the fundamental physics and less on the buzzy application. Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025 Others swing toward culture and change management, ignoring the fundamental skills required to use AI effectively. Christopher Lind, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025 Understanding the development of data centers in Loudoun County is fundamental to understanding how so many data centers came to be in Virginia. Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fundamental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fundamental
Adjective
  • Madden said his bargaining unit has reached some agreements with Kaiser over basic issues, but members are still pushing for the health system to maintain workers’ health care, retirement and pension benefits.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2025
  • For nearly two decades, the basic browsing experience, aside from a few minor improvements, remained largely unchanged.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In other words, as Cleveland tore through the league last season, the players responded to most of the milestones reached with a collective shrug and worn axioms about nothing mattering until the playoffs.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • But is that axiom true if someone's only gone a few hours?
    David Oliver, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In essence, the device aims to replace a lymphatic massage or gua sha, offering fascia release, fluid drainage, and smoother texture in one handheld gadget.
    Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Matsui, a Democrat, said time is of the essence, and called on her Republican colleagues to negotiate.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Without data centers, flights would be grounded (pilots could not get weather info and flight plans would not be available), communication would become rudimentary, payments would stop processing (welcome back, bartering) — even 911, which goes through an online system, would shut down.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Over time, these rudimentary structures gave way to more ambitious designs.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And how does Simonson feel about my own Martini maxim: that it must be served with an odd number of olives, while an even number represents the apocalypse.
    Adam Morganstern, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Sonicare brushing app is proof that this maxim couldn’t be truer.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This new therapy offers a promising approach for creating effective clinical treatments by directly targeting the blood vessel problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Noting the billions of dollars that Arkansas spends each year on federal programs to help the poor, including Medicaid, food stamps, child welfare and unemployment assistance, Sanders suggested the problems are often too big for a single program to fix.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • According to court documents, six elementary-aged students came forward with allegations against Riscovallez.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Grapevine-Colleyville school board president Shannon Braun said the district will close elementary campuses, but no decisions have been made on how many will be on the chopping block.
    Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Anthropic updated the rule in July, allowing prospective hires to polish their resumes, cover letters, and applications with the advanced tech.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
  • But Takaichi stood out for her rhetoric, vowing to crack down on rule-breaking visitors and immigrants.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fundamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fundamental. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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