Synonyms for essential
əˈsɛn ʃəles·sen·tial

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 2 votes

1. essential

   Inherent signifies permanently united as an element or original quality, naturally existent or incorporated in something so as to have become an integral part. Immanent is a philosophic word, to denote that which dwells in or pervades any substance or spirit without necessarily being a part of it, and without reference to any working out (compare SUBJECTIVE). That which is inherent is an inseparable part of that in which it inheres, and is usually thought of with reference to some outworking or effect; as, an inherent difficulty. God is said to be immanent (not inherent) in the universe. Frequently intrinsic and inherent can be interchanged, but inherent applies to qualities, while intrinsic applies to essence, so that to speak of intrinsic excellence conveys higher praise than if we say inherent excellence. Inherent and intrinsic may be said of persons or things; congenital, inborn, inbred, innate, apply to living beings. Congenital is frequent in medical and legal use with special application to defects; as, congenital idiocy. Innate and inborn are almost identical, but innate is preferred in philosophic use, as when we speak of innate ideas; that which is inborn, congenital, or innate may be original with the individual, but that which is inbred is inherited. Ingrained signifies dyed in the grain, and denotes that which is deeply wrought into substance or character.

   Synonyms:
   congenital, immanent, inborn, inbred, indispensable, indwelling, infixed, ingrained, inherent, inhering, innate, inseparable, internal, intrinsic, inwrought, native, natural, subjective

   Antonyms:
   accidental, casual, external, extrinsic, fortuitous, incidental, outward, subsidiary, superadded, superficial, superfluous, superimposed, supplemental, transient, unconnected

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. essential

   Synonyms:
   innate, inherent, requisite, necessary, vital, immanent, indispensable, leading, accidental, qualitative, quantitative, promotive, regulative, induced, imported, adventitious, ascititious, redundant, superfluous

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 4 votes

1. necessity, essential, requirement, requisite, necessaryadjective

   anything indispensable

   "food and shelter are necessities of life"; "the essentials of the good life"; "allow farmers to buy their requirements under favorable conditions"; "a place where the requisites of water fuel and fodder can be obtained"

   Synonyms:
   demand, requirement, requisite, necessary, necessity, prerequisite

   Antonyms:
   inessential, nonessential, unneeded, unimportant, incidental, adscititious, unnecessary, unessential, accessorial

2. essential, indispensableadjective

   absolutely necessary; vitally necessary

   "essential tools and materials"; "funds essential to the completion of the project"; "an indispensable worker"

   Synonyms:
   all important(p), indispensable, of the essence(p), crucial, substantive, all-important(a)

   Antonyms:
   nonessential, inessential, unneeded, unessential, adscititious, unimportant, accessorial, unnecessary, incidental

3. essentialadjective

   basic and fundamental

   "the essential feature"

   Synonyms:
   all important(p), indispensable, of the essence(p), crucial, substantive, all-important(a)

   Antonyms:
   nonessential, inessential, unimportant, unnecessary, unessential, accessorial, adscititious, incidental, unneeded

4. all-important(a), all important(p), crucial, essential, of the essence(p)adjective

   of the greatest importance

   "the all-important subject of disarmament"; "crucial information"; "in chess cool nerves are of the essence"

   Antonyms:
   nonessential, inessential, incidental, adscititious, accessorial, unneeded, unimportant, unessential, unnecessary

5. essentialadjective

   being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc

   "essential oil"

   Synonyms:
   all important(p), indispensable, of the essence(p), crucial, substantive, all-important(a)

   Antonyms:
   inessential, nonessential, unneeded, incidental, unessential, unimportant, accessorial, unnecessary, adscititious

6. substantive, essentialadjective

   defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established

   "substantive law"

   Synonyms:
   substantial, all important(p), all-important(a), indispensable, substantive, meaty, crucial, of the essence(p)

   Antonyms:
   nonessential, inessential, adscititious, unessential, incidental, accessorial, unimportant, unnecessary, unneeded

Matched Categories

1. • Law

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. gatekeeper

   essential because they are the ones with the heart chosen to stand

   to go or stand when no one else can

   Submitted by Rachellewatson60 on April 8, 2020  

2. key partadverb

   Submitted by jndiwehfyusn on September 20, 2021  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. essentialadjective

   Synonyms:
   vital, necessary, requisite, indispensable, highly important

2. essentialadjective

   Synonyms:
   volatile, pure, highly rectified

3. essentialadjective

   Synonyms:
   (Med.) idiopathic, not symptomatic

4. essentialnoun

   Synonyms:
   nature, first principle

5. essentialnoun

   Synonyms:
   chief point, most important part

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. essentialadjective

   Synonyms:
   indispensable, necessary, requisite

   Antonyms:
   nonessential, superfluous

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:5.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "essential":

   vital, indispensable, crucial, critical, fundamental, key, basic, necessary, important, imperative, core, main, pivotal, central, major, integral, substantial, paramount, primary, mission-critical, bulk, instrumental, needed, significant, decisive, essence, required, indispensible

Suggested Resources

1. Essential

   Essence vs Essential -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Essence and Essential.

How to pronounce essential?

How to say essential in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use essential in a sentence?

1. Jason Greenblatt:

   An essential part of achieving a comprehensive peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, including those in the West Bank and Gaza, will be resolving the situation in Gaza.

2. Richard Henry Lee:

   To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.

3. Joellen Russell:

   I'm delighted, because those flux measurements from inside the Antarctic Circumpolar Current Current are absolutely essential, we don't have these measurements.

4. Yoshihide Suga:

   I’m terribly sorry that this happened when we are asking people not to eat out after 8 p.m. and to avoid non-essential, non-urgent outings, each lawmaker should behave to gain the public’s understanding.

5. Patricia Gossman:

   Afghanistan's national unity government squandered important opportunities to tackle serious human rights problems, as reforms have slipped, so have essential human rights protections for detainees, women, and the media.