essentially
In basic terms
Essentially means at the most basic or fundamental level, stripping away details to reveal core truth: The two proposals are essentially the same.
It can soften claims or hedge slightly: She essentially admitted she was wrong.
Sometimes essentially functions as a filler that adds little: It's essentially a question of money.
At the most essential level
- fundamentallyAt the core level
- primarilyIn the first place
- principallyMostly or primarily
- mainlyFor the most part
chiefly · largely · mostly · substantially · predominantly · at heart · root · underlying
Essential or sustaining existence
- indispensableUtterly required, irreplaceable
- necessaryIndispensable, cannot omit
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- imperativeUnavoidably necessary
paramount · pivotal · integral · key · requisite · mandatory · prerequisite · compulsory
Existing since birth
- intrinsicBelonging by nature
- inherentExisting as essential part
- inbornExisting from birth
- naturalNot artificially produced
inbuilt · embedded · implicit · hardwired · instinctive · congenital · endemic · constitutional
Perfect representative of type
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- paradigmGoverning framework of thought
- hallmarkDistinguishing characteristic or mark
touchstone · embodiment · exemplar · distillation · purest · defining · characteristic · typical
basically
At the most essential level
- fundamentallyAt the core level
- primarilyIn the first place
- principallyMostly or primarily
mainly · chiefly · largely · mostly · substantially · predominantly · at heart · root · underlying · foundational
vital
Essential or sustaining existence
- indispensableUtterly required, irreplaceable
- necessaryIndispensable, cannot omit
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
imperative · paramount · pivotal · integral · key · requisite · mandatory · prerequisite · compulsory · obligatory
innate
Existing since birth
natural · inbuilt · embedded · implicit · hardwired · instinctive · congenital · endemic · constitutional · organic
epitome
Perfect representative of type
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- paradigmGoverning framework of thought
hallmark · touchstone · embodiment · exemplar · distillation · purest · defining · characteristic · typical · representative
- clarifying languagenamely, specifically, in other words, that is, for example
- in summaryin short, in brief, in sum, briefly, succinctly
- hedginghedging, hedge, hedges, hedge bet, qualifier
- clarifiersi.e., e.g., namely, meaning, specifically
- filler wordsum, uh, er, hmm, ah
- comparisonscomparison, compare, comparative, analogy, metaphor
essentiallysuperficially
At surface level only
apparently · seemingly · ostensibly · outwardly · nominally
essentiallyadditionally
In a supplementary way
secondly · furthermore · finally · lastly · incidentally
- bare essentialsAbsolute minimum required
- essential oilsConcentrated plant-derived aromatics
- essential personnelStaff too vital to furlough
- non-essential goodsItems beyond basic needs
- essential workerVital occupation holder
- essential servicesIndispensable public functions
essential, essentials, nonessential, inessential, quintessential, unessential, essentiality, essentialism, quintessentially