kernel

noun

ˈkər-nᵊl How to pronounce kernel (audio)
Definition of kernelnext
as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration the kernel of your argument seems to be the inevitability of human migration into space

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 kernel Mi Rancho has been making tortillas since 1939 and continues to use whole-kernel California corn, a commitment that shows in the tortillas’ fresh taste and consistently tender texture. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 July 2026 The vulnerability resides in KVM, which is, in essence, a virtual machine app included in the kernel of many Linux distributions. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026 Two companies can use the exact same RTOS kernel and still ship completely different products. — Rajesh Subramaniam, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Hold the corn, tip down, in the bowl, and using a sharp knife, cut straight down between the kernels and the cob, cutting as close to the cob as possible and rotating the ear about a quarter turn after each cut. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for kernel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kernel
  1. root
  2. core
  3. essence
  4. heart
Noun
  • The Northernmost Tree For now, most commercial breadfruit groves are still setting root, leaving the growing to the same type of people who once introduced it to the region — the plant fanatics.
    — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • Reforming Social Security by cutting benefits for rich people and raising them for poor people would make the most financial sense and return the program to its roots.
    — Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • The core interest aside from this being the final of a six-week long competition that only happens every four years is the country of Messi’s birth taking on the country that raised him.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Since the brain needs to drop its core temperature by roughly a degree to descend into deep sleep, a bedroom temperature of around 65-67 degrees Fahrenheit will help.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • That never crossed my mind before, but now in 2026, our reggaeton, our essence and our sound has become important in Mexico and even more so on a Latino level.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • But that all seems to funnel into these six tracks, mixing momentum and wisdom to arrive at the essence of the pedal steel—extreme highs, extreme lows, the expanse in between, out where life is lived.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Symptoms of this condition include delirium, seizures, an abnormal heart rhythm, hyperthermia, coma and death.
    — Andrew Yockey, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
  • Researchers found that black coffee (or coffee with very little added) was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and certain irregular heart rhythms, and Type 2 diabetes.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 24 July 2026
Definition of heart

Browse Nearby Words

kerfuffles
kernel
kernels
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Cite this Entry

“Kernel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kernel. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on kernel

Nglish: Translation of kernel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kernel

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