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Definitions

heart of the matter

NOUN
nitty-gritty
Synonyms
STRONG
basics core essence focus fundamentals gist heart kernel meat quintessence reality root soul substance
WEAK
bottom line brass tacks chief part chief thing cold fact essential details essential part hard fact important matter meat and potatoes name of the game nuts and bolts the facts the name of the game
Antonyms
STRONG
exterior exteriority outside surface

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.

He thanked the US military and Trump for their "assistance" and moved on to the point that for him is the heart of the matter.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

The film gets to the heart of the matter quickly and stays there, spreading out to make itself comfortable.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

At the heart of the matter are longstanding rules that cap the number of households one broadcaster can reach.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

At the heart of the matter are credit-card interchange fees, which merchants pony up when shoppers pay with plastic.

From Barron's • Nov. 10, 2025

Let me spell out precisely what I mean by that, for the heart of the matter is here, and the root of my dispute with my country.

From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin