essentially

ADVERB

basically

Synonyms

STRONGEST

actually approximately necessarily originally permanently quite really substantially truly typically virtually

STRONG

fundamentally

WEAK

at heart at the heart of 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.

As Salon has reported before, these things can appear extremely bright in the night sky, vexing astronomers and essentially censoring the stars.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

“You’re asking us to step on our client’s IP and essentially put our entire careers at risk.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

While the Bruins will bring back some young talent in Lena Bilic and Sienna Betts and add injured senior Timea Gardiner, they will essentially have to start from scratch.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Employment has been essentially flat for the past year, meaning workers don’t have a large cushion for rising prices.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

For the rest of the war, he served essentially as a senior civilian advisor and administrator.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

essentially

Example Sentences

Related Words