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
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Recent Examples of meat-and-potatoes
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
Was Nansi simply a meat-and-potatoes, fourth-line player?
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025
Josh Miller, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
That’s meat and potatoes y’all.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meat-and-potatoes
Adjective
Amaya Battle is a meat-and-potatoes basketball player.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
Was Nansi simply a meat-and-potatoes, fourth-line player?
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025
Plural noun
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
That’s meat and potatoes y’all.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meat-and-potatoes
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meat-and-potatoes
Adjective
-
When citizens insist on shaping the basic terms of social life by appealing to premises that others cannot reasonably be expected to accept—revelation, doctrines of transcendence, private moral visions—the result is not a purer politics but a dangerously brittle one.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Entrants had to meet some basic criteria, including either being fully autonomous (making their own decisions using AI and sensors) or remotely controlled (piloted by a human), with the competition putting an emphasis on the former over raw speed.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Proceeds support horticulture scholarships at MiraCosta College and fund garden programs in local elementary and middle schools.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
This year, six staffers each covered multiple schools across elementary, middle and high school levels to provide therapy and referrals to Johnson County Mental Health.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The class would enable students to gain specialized skills needed for employment after graduation or for further post-secondary training, a memo from the district said, and would also provide students with opportunities to teach other students in the district’s introductory welding course.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
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Sign up today for How to Talk To People At Work and use the coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 20% off the regular course price of $57 (plus tax).—
CNBC Make It staff,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His pieces include solid wood chairs with a deliberately rudimentary, almost minimal design, integrating ornamental elements such as marquetry panels or tin bas-reliefs into their backs, legs or seats.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Several rudimentary suggestions for fake numbers follow.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The two share mechanical underpinnings, including their powertrains and most fundamental off-road hardware.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
This breakthrough provides a practical toolkit for directly probing quantum electrodynamics and observing the fundamental, extreme interactions between light and the quantum vacuum.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meat-and-potatoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meat-and-potatoes. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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