essential Synonyms
Another word for essential
• adjective (Context 1)
Absolutely necessary; extremely important or indispensable.
"Access to clean drinking water is indispensable for human health and survival."
• noun (Context 2)
A thing that is absolutely necessary or fundamental (usually used in the plural).
"Before departing for the camping trip, we double-checked our backpacks to ensure we had packed all the essentials."
• adjective (Context 3)
Fundamental or central to the true nature of something or someone.
"Despite the superficial changes to the layout, the fundamental character of the historic neighborhood remained intact."
• adjective (Context 4)
(of a disease or medical condition) Having no known external stimulus or cause; idiopathic.
"The patient was diagnosed with idiopathic hypertension and prescribed daily medication to manage her blood pressure."
Opposites of essential
The opposite of essential shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: