Synonyms for fundamental
modified
Providing the foundation
basic, underlying, basal, radical, primary, first, underived, rudimentary, elementary, substrative, supporting, axiomatic, key, crucial, vital, major, principal, grass-roots, requisite, elemental, primal, cardinal, organic, axiological, theoretical, structural, sustaining, central, original, integral.
Antonyms superficial*, incidental, consequent.
Essential
primary, requisite, significant; see necessary 1.
See fundamental in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
adjective
Arising from or going to the root or source:
basal, basic, foundational, original, primary, radical, underlying. See surfaceOf or being an irreducible element:
basic, elemental, elementary, essential, primitive, ultimate, underlying. See surfaceConstituting or forming part of the essence of something:
basic, constitutional, constitutive, essential, integral, vital. See be, surface
noun
A fundamental irreducible constituent of a whole:
basic, element, essential, rudiment (often used in plural). Idiom: part and parcel. See partA fundamental principle or underlying concept:
base1, basis, cornerstone, foundation, fundament, root1, rudiment (often used in plural). See overA broad and basic rule or truth:
axiom, law, principle, theorem, universal. See order
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