indispensable
Cannot do without
Indispensable means absolutely necessary—something you cannot do without.
An indispensable employee is one whose absence would cripple operations.
Indispensable tools, indispensable ingredients, indispensable allies.
The word carries weight: calling something indispensable is a strong claim, suggesting that no substitute exists.
She became indispensable to the campaign.
Of supreme importance
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- vitalEssential or sustaining existence
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
- keyLock-opening device
paramount · central · fundamental · cardinal · chief · primary · foremost · preeminent
Fundamentally necessary
- necessaryIndispensable, cannot omit
- requiredNeeded by rule
- mandatoryRequired by rule
- requisiteSomething absolutely needed
compulsory · obligatory · prerequisite · needed · imperative · must-have · sine qua non · precondition
Serving as a base
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- keystoneArch's central locking stone
- pillarUpright architectural support
backbone · underpinning · groundwork · framework · scaffolding · substratum · structural · supporting
Having no adequate substitute
- uniqueOnly one exists
- peerlessHaving no equal
- matchlessHaving no equal
- incomparableWithout equal or rival
unparalleled · one-of-a-kind · precious · invaluable · priceless · exceptional · singular · nonpareil
Antiderivative or crucial component
- coreCentral essential portion
- constituentMember of electoral district
- componentElement of a system
- built-inIncluded as standard
inherent · intrinsic · inseparable · embedded · inextricable · organic · innate
crucial
Of supreme importance
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- vitalEssential or sustaining existence
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
key · paramount · central · fundamental · cardinal · chief · primary · foremost · preeminent · dominant
essential
Fundamentally necessary
requisite · compulsory · obligatory · prerequisite · needed · imperative · must-have · sine qua non · precondition · unavoidable
foundational
Serving as a base
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- keystoneArch's central locking stone
pillar · backbone · underpinning · groundwork · framework · scaffolding · substratum · structural · supporting · base
irreplaceable
Having no adequate substitute
incomparable · unparalleled · one-of-a-kind · precious · invaluable · priceless · exceptional · singular · nonpareil · unmatched
integral
Antiderivative or crucial component
- coreCentral essential portion
- constituentMember of electoral district
- componentElement of a system
built-in · inherent · intrinsic · inseparable · embedded · inextricable · organic · innate
- prioritypriority, top priority, high priority, low-priority, first priority
- qualitiesgood, bad, better, best, useful
- No Choiceno choice, no alternative, only option, take-it-or-leave-it, last resort
indispensabledispensable
Able to be sacrificed
unnecessary · nonessential · unneeded · expendable · needless
indispensableworthless
Lacking any value
unimportant · insignificant · inconsequential · trivial · useless