at bottom
In the end
At bottom means fundamentally or when you get down to the essential truth of something: He seems gruff, but at bottom he's a kind man.
The phrase suggests stripping away surface appearances to reach what's underneath—the bottom layer of a thing's nature.
At bottom, it's a question of money.
By essential nature
- basicallyAt the most essential level
- intrinsicallyBy its very nature
- essentiallyAt its core nature
- primarilyIn the first place
in essence · at heart · deep down · when all is said and done · in reality · in truth · stripped down · principally
Underlying support or principle
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- foundationUnderlying support structure
base · footing · underpinning · root · anchor · backbone · support · substructure
At the end
- in the endAfter all is considered
- eventuallyAt a later time
- conclusivelyIn a final, undeniable manner
- when push comes to shoveWhen forced to act
at the end of the day · all things considered · net-net · after all
inherently
By essential nature
- basicallyAt the most essential level
- intrinsicallyBy its very nature
- essentiallyAt its core nature
primarily · in essence · at heart · deep down · when all is said and done · in reality · in truth · stripped down · principally · centrally
basis
Underlying support or principle
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- bedrockSolid stone underground
foundation · base · footing · underpinning · root · anchor · backbone · support · substructure · starting point
finally
At the end
- in the endAfter all is considered
- eventuallyAt a later time
- conclusivelyIn a final, undeniable manner
when push comes to shove · at the end of the day · all things considered · net-net · after all
at bottomon the surface
In apparent aspect only
superficially · ostensibly · outwardly · apparently · seemingly
bottom, bottoms, bottomless, bottomed, bottommost, bottoming, rock-bottom, bottomlessness