Make solidarity and equal rights the cornerstone of public policy.
Source: tatoeba (430093)
Cornerstone
Synonyms for "cornerstone" (64 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: basis, foundation, base, base the hypothesis, bench mark.
- Sentence evidence is available for cornerstone, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "cornerstone".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "cornerstone"
Keep "cornerstone" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "cornerstone" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "cornerstone", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "cornerstone" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesassumptionconceptual elementconstruction componentfundamental componentstonestructural elementsupposalsupposition
More specific
4 entriescore valuegranite cornerstonekey principlelimestone cornerstone
Collocations
6 entriesInflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
30 translations across 25 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- крайъгълен камък noun (base stone)
Catalan
1 entries- pedra cantonera noun (base stone)
Czech
1 entries- nárožní kámen noun (base stone)
Dutch
2 entries- hoeksteen noun (base stone)
- steunpilaar noun (base stone)
Esperanto
1 entries- angulŝtono noun (base stone)
Finnish
1 entries- kulmakivi noun (base stone)
French
2 entries- pierre angulaire noun (base stone)
- pierre d'angle noun (base stone)
Georgian
1 entries- ქვაკუთხედი noun (base stone)
German
1 entries- Eckstein noun (base stone)
Greek
1 entries- ακρογωνιαίος λίθος noun (base stone)
Hungarian
1 entries- sarokkő noun (base stone)
Italian
2 entries- pietra angolare noun (base stone)
- pietra d'angolo noun (base stone)
Japanese
1 entries- 礎 noun (base stone)
Khiamniungan Naga
1 entries- thāyôlòng noun (base stone)
Middle English
1 entries- corner ston noun (base stone)
Ottoman Turkish
1 entries- كوشه طاشی noun (base stone)
Persian
3 entries- بنیاد noun (base stone)
- سنگ پی noun (base stone)
- پی noun (base stone)
Plautdietsch
1 entries- Akjsteen noun (base stone)
Polish
1 entries- kamień węgielny noun (base stone)
Russian
1 entries- краеуго́льный ка́мень noun (base stone)
Spanish
1 entries- piedra angular noun (base stone)
Tagalog
1 entries- panulukang-bato noun (base stone)
Turkish
1 entries- köşe taşı noun (base stone)
Ukrainian
1 entries- нарі́жний ка́мінь noun (base stone)
Welsh
1 entries- conglfaen noun (base stone)
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
It also forms a vital cornerstone of the strategy for sustainable development.
Source: tatoeba (3454399)
And I would not be standing here this evening without the unyielding support of my best friend for the past 16 years, the cornerstone of our family, the love of my life, the First Lady of the nation, Michelle Obama.
Source: tatoeba (5073892)
Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of democracy.
Source: tatoeba (5644755)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "cornerstone"?
Closest matches include basis, foundation, base, base the hypothesis, bench mark.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "cornerstone"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.
More for "cornerstone"
Editorial Guides For "cornerstone"
Professional Email Tone: Sound Clear, Polite, and Decisive
Practical phrase swaps to improve clarity and reduce friction in workplace emails.
De-escalation Language for Difficult Conversations
Use wording that lowers tension while preserving boundaries and forward progress.
Brand Voice Consistency: Keep Tone Unified Across Pages
Practical framework to keep product, marketing, and support copy aligned.