integral

adjective

ˈin-ti-grəl How to pronounce integral (audio)
Definition of integralnext
1
as in intrinsic
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing a car dealer respected for his integral honesty and straightforwardness with customers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in essential
impossible to do without she's an integral member of the team of archaeologists at that dig

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in entire
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it a prep school that adheres to the belief that athletics are essential to an integral life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 integral This too would serve to increase the revenue of American companies – significantly increasing their international sales which would be an integral part of their bottom line for U.S. shareholders. — Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2025 These free educational initiatives and community-building efforts have become integral to the impact Antigravity is making, both in and outside of Hollywood. — Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025 But what if apathy isn’t just a byproduct of physical decline but an integral part of the disease itself? — Adam Kepecs, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025 The steel-boned corset is an integral part of the recovery process. — Jolene Edgar, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for integral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for integral
  1. intrinsic
  2. essential
  3. entire
  4. inherent
  5. necessary
  6. whole
  7. required
  8. complete
Adjective
  • In fact, gardening ranked among the top five activities that participants found most meaningful, which speaks to the deep, intrinsic satisfaction such hobbies bring.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The most important factor behind a player’s intrinsic value is their quality.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of intrinsic
Adjective
  • Since 2014, the ACL Hall of Fame has honored artists who have played an essential role in the series’ half-century as a premier supporter of top-shelf music.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.
    — Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of essential
Adjective
  • Because a bat has a thick barrel and rotates when swung, its motion and power depend on the distribution of weight across the entire shaft, not just in one spot.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Any time a bird gets sick, the entire flock is killed to help keep bird flu from spreading.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of entire
Adjective
  • Saw no inherent contradiction between beauty and use.
    — Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
  • There is a collage aesthetic to the film, because that’s just inherent to my experience growing up, getting so much information in so many different forms of media shot into my eyes.
    — Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of inherent
Adjective
  • But the success of any of NASA’s plans depends on having the money and resources necessary to carry them out.
    — Wendy Whitman Cobb, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
  • These companies feel like necessary building blocks of modern existence.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of necessary
Adjective
  • Marchesa Casati took her love of the panther to a whole other level.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But the ones who got truly screwed in this whole double-elimination business are the viewers.
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of whole
Adjective
  • The Friends of Bear Creek Stables are tasked with asking for quotes for required coverage before making that decision.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2025
  • According to the death review investigation, the facility conducted the required well-being checks on the resident every 30 minutes from 9:53 p.m. Oct. 18 through 2:13 a.m. Oct. 19.
    — Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of required
Adjective
  • Factoring in Cunningham working himself back into a complete All-Star, playoff-caliber level only adds weight to these games.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Engaging with this data, these states are able to create a much more complete picture of what maternal health care looks like.
    — Antonio Reynoso, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of complete

Browse Nearby Words

integers
integral
integrate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Integral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/integral. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on integral

Nglish: Translation of integral for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about integral

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name that thing flower edition
Name That Flower Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
See All