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- pronunciation:
- ih
sen
sh
 l
- parts of speech:
- adjective, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective, noun), Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
fundamental; necessary; indispensable.
Water and air are essential to life.
- synonyms:
- basic, fundamental, indispensable, necessary, vital
- antonyms:
- circumstantial, dispensable, expendable, incidental, inessential, nonessential, superfluous, unessential, unnecessary
- similar words:
- bottom, central, critical, crucial, imperative, integral, intrinsic, key, living, obligate, primary, prime, principal, real, requisite, staple
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| definition 2: |
of or pertaining to the essence or core; not reducible.
Forgiveness is an essential theme of the play.- synonyms:
- basic, fundamental, inherent, intrinsic, quintessential
- antonyms:
- accidental, adventitious, peripheral
- similar words:
- chief, distilled, key, main, principal, radical, real, substantial
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| related words: |
basic, cardinal, elementary, important, inherent, innate, intimate, organic, prerequisite, rudimentary, spiritual, stock, true |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
that which is absolutely necessary.
My salary is just enough to pay for my essentials, so I can't afford any luxuries.- synonyms:
- indispensable, necessary, necessity
- antonyms:
- inessential
- similar words:
- imperative, need, obligation, requirement, requisite
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| definition 2: |
that which is vital or basic.
I think I understood the essential points of his argument.- synonyms:
- base, basic, cornerstone, foundation, fundamental
- similar words:
- attribute, characteristic, crux, element, extract, primary, quality, rudiment, trait
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| related words: |
basic, basis, essence, ingredient, necessary, postulate, prerequisite, want |
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| derivation: |
essentially (adv.) |
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