at heart

ADVERB

in reality

Synonyms

WEAK

at bottom basically deep down fundamentally in essence in spite of appearance inside

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.

It is, at heart, a cooperative act—a republic the size of a field.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

But Stephania lived in turmoil, because she was a feminist at heart.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026

The longer you live, the more likely you are to realize that not everyone has your best interests at heart.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Reviewing the first-season finale, I wrote that the series was at heart a romantic comedy.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

He believed that they trusted him and knew that he had their best interests at heart.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy