essential

1. adjective

1)

it is essential to remove the paint

Syn:

crucial, necessary, key, vital, indispensable, important, all-important, of the essence, critical, imperative, mandatory, compulsory, obligatory; urgent, pressing, paramount, preeminent, high-priority, nonnegotiable; informal must-have

See note at necessary

Ant:

unimportant, optional

2)

the essential simplicity of his style

Syn:

basic, inherent, fundamental, quintessential, intrinsic, underlying, characteristic, innate, primary, elementary, elemental; central, pivotal, vital

See note at inherent

Ant:

secondary

2. noun

1)

an essential for broadcasters

Syn:

necessity, prerequisite, requisite, requirement, need; condition, precondition, stipulation; sine qua non; informal must, must-have

2)

the essentials of the job

Syn:

fundamentals, basics, rudiments, first principles, foundations, bedrock; essence, basis, core, kernel, crux, sine qua non; informal nitty-gritty, brass tacks, nuts and bolts, meat and potatoes