as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
the purpose of the course is to furnish students with fundamental knowledge of human reproduction
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in axiom
Related Words
2
as in essence
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fundamental
Cory Smith, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
Over the past decade, AMPAS has undergone a fundamental transformation.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Rather than settling for a boring black tank, this one is adorned with a contrasting white trim and subtle knit detailing that instantly levels up this fundamental piece.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
But the comedians also used those laughs to reveal the fundamental absurdity of violence and conflict.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fundamental
Adjective
Today, nearly ten years after the first super shoe was created, the fundamental materials and design (foam, plate, and midsole geometry) are largely understood and optimized, making meaningful progress difficult.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for fundamental
Adjective
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At that point, the operator would recite the most intimate details of a patient’s health history to hook her before launching into a few basic screening questions.—
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Ross argued that allowing local police to provide basic crowd control — rather than restricting coordination — could have reduced risks during recent confrontations.—
Noun
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These shows were built around heady concepts like a sequence, an axiom or the work of Pablo Picasso.—
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His preference would be to find simpler axioms for quantum mechanics — intuitive principles that would let theorists re-derive the theory in a new form altogether.—
Noun
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In this poetry collection, Vilariño strips poetry to its essence—distilling love, loss, and the inexorable passage of time into spare yet searing verses.—
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Stripped to their symbolic essence, the erotics of Frankenstein are about the body as meat, electrified by carnal pleasure and unencumbered by the soul.—
Adjective
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There, everyone comes and goes on longboats that have awnings, a row of rudimentary seats, and a small outboard motor.—
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The medical system provides only the most rudimentary care, and hospitals have little to no medicine.—
Noun
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That medical maxim, taught to physicians for ages, would serve Florida well if the Legislature were to adopt it.—
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Lobby or be lobbied over is a maxim local governments continue bringing to the table today.—
Noun
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Her main problem was with the MAGA movement in general, believing that her negative interactions with MAGA protesters reflected the hearts and minds of the movement more broadly.—
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No, a Super Bowl run isn't likely for this team, but Pittsburgh does have a bit of a unique offense that could give defenses that rely on their pass rush problems.—
Adjective
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The educators at elementary, middle and high schools across the district received honorary titles as chairs of teaching excellence for one year in their respective subjects.—
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Tutoring elementary students is one of the best opportunities to build meaningful community relations, program officials say.—
Noun
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While Glaser tones it down on stage, the same rules don’t apply for the red carpet.—
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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which determined each year's nominees until they were deposed as the deciding committee in 2022 in the wake of a scandal, revised its rules around animation in 2014.—
Cite this Entry
“Fundamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fundamental. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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