as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
a meat-and-potatoes knowledge of figure skating is all that a spectator really needs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
an article that never gets into the meat and potatoes of a solution to the city's rising crime rate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of meat-and-potatoes
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
Wahlberg was a 20-something bad boy who took a more meat-and-potatoes (or Peter Berg and Peter Berg) route to popular success.
—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Alison Syrett Cleary,
InStyle,
18 Jan. 2026
Save as a collection on MyRecipes To some, the definition of a comforting dinner is meat and potatoes.
—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meat-and-potatoes
Adjective
When working in that vein, Barnett’s journeys through self-doubt are well-matched with the stomping, meat-and-potatoes indie-rock production that Burke Reid and Dan Luscombe brought to her first two albums.
—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
Wahlberg was a 20-something bad boy who took a more meat-and-potatoes (or Peter Berg and Peter Berg) route to popular success.
—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Plural noun
While the meat and potatoes of this outfit—a baggy T-shirt and button-down with khakis—are total dad staples, the mix feels cool and purposeful.
—
Alison Syrett Cleary,
InStyle,
18 Jan. 2026
Save as a collection on MyRecipes To some, the definition of a comforting dinner is meat and potatoes.
—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meat-and-potatoes
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meat-and-potatoes
Adjective
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Riccobono said a few basic tips can help make those interactions as smooth as possible.
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Sentience is defined as the basic capacity to feel and to experience sensations.
Adjective
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Speaking of immersive, MacKay and Turner only acquired an elementary grasp of the mechanics of fishing, but that’s by design.
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The lawsuit cited the facility's proximity to elementary and middle schools and residential neighborhoods.
Adjective
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An introductory section designed by Studio Adrien Gardère will spotlight the savoir-faire of Le19M’s 11 resident maisons d’art, focusing on the gestures, tools, materials and creative processes that define them.
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The space hosted introductory watchmaking workshops, information on professional opportunities and career paths organized by the Swiss Watchmaking Industry Employers’ Association (CP).
Adjective
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Many are rudimentary and low-stakes, but the meaningful ones are still buried within the total volume.
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But before long, professors complained that incoming freshmen lacked even rudimentary math skills.
Adjective
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Gregory Maynard, executive director of the Boston Policy Institute, a City Hall watchdog, said the coordination between the Council and mayor’s office points to the Council’s fundamental inability to carry out its budget amendment authority, which was granted by voters in a 2021 ballot referendum.
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And there are calls for more fundamental changes, including reconsidering whether the legal mandate for six-day mail delivery is financially sustainable.
Cite this Entry
“Meat-and-potatoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meat-and-potatoes. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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