as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
a meat-and-potatoes knowledge of figure skating is all that a spectator really needs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
an article that never gets into the meat and potatoes of a solution to the city's rising crime rate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of meat-and-potatoes
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025
These preparations go beyond the meat-and-potatoes approach, bringing a worldview to the table in memorable ways.
—Leslie Kelly, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Josh Miller, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
That’s meat and potatoes y’all.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meat-and-potatoes
Adjective
Was Nansi simply a meat-and-potatoes, fourth-line player?
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025
These preparations go beyond the meat-and-potatoes approach, bringing a worldview to the table in memorable ways.
—Leslie Kelly, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Plural noun
Save as a collection on MyRecipes To some, the definition of a comforting dinner is meat and potatoes.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
That’s meat and potatoes y’all.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meat-and-potatoes
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meat-and-potatoes
Adjective
-
As of now, a training center in Shandong is tutoring dozens of humanoids in basic tasks such as carrying trays, folding clothes, and retrieving water from shelves.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Overcrowding, abuse, and neglect have made conditions far worse, and basic agency oversight has been gutted.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The eldest Clyburn daughter, Abby (Beau Garrett), and her two children, 15-year-old Bridgette (Amiah Miller) and elementary-age Macy (Alaina Pollack), round out a family dynamic painted with broad, predictable strokes.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Children who are older-elementary age, parents must assess their development and functioning.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sign up now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 25% off the regular course price of $127 (plus tax).—
Michelle Le,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Nature Anywhere Window Bird Feeder Get acquainted with the neighborhood birds using this introductory bird feeder.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The puppetry, rudimentary special effects, and unflattering costumes mark it as a distinctly Adult Swim show.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Yet standard neurological imaging, such as MRI scans, almost never detects abnormalities, and most physicians, who understand the symptoms’ basis in only the most rudimentary sense, can offer little useful counsel.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This has become known as the Atomki anomaly, and many have suggested that a new particle, and a new, fundamental interaction (or fifth force) could be the key explanation behind these findings.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Their work would help launch the booming field of quantum information science, spurring the development of new technology and the discovery of fundamental connections between physics and information.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meat-and-potatoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meat-and-potatoes. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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