base 1 of 3

as in to ground
to find a basis she based her argument on careful research

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base

2 of 3

noun

1
2
as in camp
a place from which an advance (as for military operations) is made the army's base of attack was kept top secret until the battle began

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in bottom
the lowest part, place, or point the base of the mountain extends over a huge area make sure the base of the stove rests evenly on the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in headquarters
the place from which a commander runs operations the army base is three miles down the road

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base

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective base contrast with its synonyms?

The words low and vile are common synonyms of base. While all three words mean "deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values," base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.

base motives

When is low a more appropriate choice than base?

The meanings of low and base largely overlap; however, low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety.

refused to listen to such low talk

Where would vile be a reasonable alternative to base?

In some situations, the words vile and base are roughly equivalent. However, vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.

a vile remark

Examples of base in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Freelance writer Johanna Costigan is a freelance writer based in New York. Condé Nast, WIRED, 1 Nov. 2024 Keep in mind traffic and road closures may change based on real-time conditions so consider using a traffic app. Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
The Nevada rally is a chance for the former president to appeal to his core base and mobilize his supporters ahead of November 5. Newsweek has contacted the Trump campaign for more information about the event. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 From $356 per night. BOOK NOW The Gant Aspen Located in a five-acre nook right at the base of Aspen Mountain, this set of condominiums offers a chic spot to lay your head at night after a day of skiing, snowboarding, and whatever else the Great Outdoors calls you to do. Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Taylor's contract includes a base salary of $220,000 with the opportunity for merit raises every year if approved by the school board. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Oct. 2024 Chicken broth: Provides the base liquid for the soup. Julia Levy, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for base 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'base.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near base

Cite this Entry

“Base.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/base. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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