at the heart of

ADVERB

essentially

Synonyms

STRONGEST

actually approximately necessarily originally permanently quite really substantially truly typically virtually

STRONG

fundamentally

WEAK

at heart centrally characteristically chiefly determinately factually importantly in effect in essence indispensably inherently intimately intrinsically materially more or less so naturally primarily principally radically significantly vitally

Antonyms

STRONGEST

doubtfully

WEAK

apparently on the surface superficially

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Residential burglaries strike at the heart of people’s sense of safety, and we are responding with precision, urgency, and coordination,” said McDonnell in a statement Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

"Convergent evidence shows beyond doubt that ecological diversity sits at the heart of our species," said Professor Eleanor Scerri, senior author of the study.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

“Global price-fixing cartels strike at the heart of our economic liberty,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Whenever China and Russia appear to diverge, a simple truth at the heart of their relationship becomes clear: neither country must follow the other, because theirs is not a formal alliance.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

I had come to believe that the ability to evaluate many ideas, many histories, many points of view, was at the heart of what it means to self-create.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

at the heart of

Example Sentences

Related Words