BASIC Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

basic 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbā-sik

Definition of basic

as in rudimentary

of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject you'll need a basic knowledge of computers to get any sort of office work

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

basic

2 of 2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of basic

Adjective

The dispute highlights how racial stereotypes shape debates over public assistance, as new work rules take effect and many low-income people struggle to afford basic needs. — Laura Turbay, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 One notable difference from basic screen recorders is the ability to add clickable CTA buttons directly to videos. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026

Noun

Shop for every area of your home and even stock up on cleaning basics while the deals are aplenty. — Emma Ashe, The Spruce, 22 June 2026 Shoppers can score breezy shorts, airy tanks, and swishy skirts alongside everyday basics like easy T-shirts and socks built for hot weather comfort. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for basic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for basic

Adjective

That effectively turns the window unit into a rudimentary ground-source heat pump.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
People in New York City looked up in shock and dismay; people everywhere else watched their favorite anchors on old-fashioned television sets and looked for updates on very rudimentary versions of news websites.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of rudimentary

Adjective

Some of those had major errors, like a hand with six fingers and clocks with numbers in the wrong places, both of which were approved lesson plans for elementary classrooms.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026
Saint followed her sister to Bowling Green State University in Ohio and majored in elementary education.

— Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of elementary

Noun

No matter your skin type, hydration is a must, and Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30 is here to quench, replenish, and protect with broad-spectrum SPF 30.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
The breakfast buffet is a must to gain the energy to hike the trails through drenching spray later.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of must

Adjective

Could younger athletes attend an introductory session before formal evaluation?

— Irma Davarashvili, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
But still, this felt different — as Gray himself noted in his moving introductory remarks, reflecting on growing up a few miles away from the Upper West Side.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of introductory

Noun

Thiel also secured New Zealand citizenship in 2011, receiving a special exemption from the usual residency requirements.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
The company said at the time that the facility would test battery performance, quality and durability under requirements specific to the region.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of requirement

Adjective

The 2026 Nobel Prize for Chemistry has been awarded to Henri Kagan of the Universite Paris-Sud, in France, and Kenso Soai of the Tokyo University of Science, in Japan, for their work exploring the fundamental geometry of molecules.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026
Unless there's a dramatic fundamental change in the dynamic, Democrats are on pace to capture the Senate and House majorities in November.

— Nathan Gonzales CQ-Roll Call, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of fundamental

Browse Nearby Words

bashings

basic

basically

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“Basic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/basic. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of basic

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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