| Main Entry: | fundamental |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | basic, essential part |
Synonyms: |
ABCs, axiom, basis, bottom line, brass tacks, coal and ice, component, constituent, cornerstone, element, factor, foundation, guts*, heart, law, nitty-gritty, principium, principle, rock bottom, rudiment, rule, sine qua non, theorem |
Antonyms: |
addition, auxiliary, extra, subordinate, trivia |
| Main Entry: | heart |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | essence, central part |
Synonyms: |
basic, bosom, bottom line, center, coal and ice, core, crux, focal point, focus, gist, hub, kernel, marrow, middle, nitty-gritty, nub, nucleus, pith, polestar, quick*, quintessence, root, seat, soul |
Antonyms: |
exterior, exteriority, outside, periphery, surface |
| Main Entry: | vital |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | essential |
Synonyms: |
basic, bottom-line, cardinal, coal-and-ice, constitutive, critical, crucial, decisive, fundamental, heavy*, imperative, important, indispensable, integral, key, life-or-death, meaningful, meat-and-potatoes, name, name-of-the-game, necessary, needed, nitty-gritty, prerequisite, required, requisite, significant, underlined, urgent |
| Notes: | the words crucial, essential, and vital cannot be qualified (cannot be more or less...) |
Antonyms: |
inessential, insignficant, trivial, unimportant |
| Main Entry: | gravamen |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | heart |
Synonyms: |
basic, bosom, bottom line, center, coal and ice, core, crux, essence, focal point, focus, gist, hub, kernel, marrow, meat, middle, nitty-gritty, nub, nucleus, pith, polestar, quick*, quintessence, root, seat, soul, spirit, stuff*, substance |