basal

adjective

ˈbā-səl How to pronounce basal (audio)
Definition of basalnext
as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject many students lacked even a basal familiarity with the topic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of basal On the other hand, Silphium terebinthinaceum has basal foliage that stays close to the ground while its inflorescence is wildly airy. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026 Your eyes constantly produce a thin layer of basal tears to keep the cornea lubricated, and the duct quietly shuttles that trickle into the nose, where it’s absorbed or blended into normal nasal mucus without a trace. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 If dopamine neurons in the basal ganglia degenerate as happens in Parkinson’s disease, movements become harder to initiate and slower once they are commenced. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 Plants produce a basal rosette of downy foliage in their first year and flower in the second season, after which the plants typically die out. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for basal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for basal
  1. basic
  2. elementary
  3. rudimentary
  4. introductory
  5. underlying
  6. fundamental
Adjective
  • Despite that footprint, the basic cement-making process has changed relatively little since the material was invented in 1824.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Today’s recipe A basic vinaigrette is a balancing act between acidity and fat.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of basic
Adjective
  • Adding West High School will require drawing a third zone, and the zone boundaries will affect the racial and socioeconomic balance of schools, along with transportation times and feeder patterns for elementary and middle schools.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In elementary classrooms, engagement may include collaborative projects involving discussion and problem solving, writing, or small-group lessons.
    — Jose Bolaños, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of elementary
Adjective
  • Using rudimentary 3-D animation tools, the film looks janky, with sharp edges and bad editing.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The panels were expensive and rudimentary by today’s standards.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of rudimentary
Adjective
  • Jones and Feliciano won their introductory press conference Monday, creating a level of engagement and connection that topped even the public introductions of Moores and Lucchino in 1995 and the Seidler-Ron Fowler group in 2012.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • WYouth magazine’s Ava Nirui, a friend of the designer, conducted the in-book interview with Liang, and actress and close friend Greta Lee penned the introductory letter.
    — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of introductory
Adjective
  • Chronic disease can lead to loss of weight and muscle, and unintentional weight loss can be a sign of an underlying medical problem.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The result strongly suggested meningitis—an inflammation around the brain and spinal cord often caused by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens—yet a battery of tests failed to detect any underlying infection.
    — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of underlying
Adjective
  • Ultimately, keeping firearms securely locked and unloaded away from kids and unauthorized individuals is a fundamental part of responsible gun ownership.
    — Brittany Berlin, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Russian businesses face fundamental economic challenges as the costly war drags on.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fundamental

Browse Nearby Words

barters (for)
basal
base
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Cite this Entry

“Basal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/basal. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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