in essence

Prepositional phrase

1. By nature; inherently.
   • If the human being who answers these tendencies assumes a submissive behavior, in essence a lowering of head and shoulders, wavering glance, absence of all preparations for attack, general weakening of muscle tonus, and hesitancy in movement, the movements of attempt at mastery become modified into...1913, Edward Lee Thorndike, Educational Psychology, Teachers college, Columbia university, page 92
   • Indigenous people, such as agriculturists, hunters, and pastoralists initiated a system of totemism and tabooism which in essence was a natural law against killing and eating certain animals.1978, David Dhlalangami Maforo, Black-white Relations in Kenya Game Policy, page 5

   Synonyms:

   essentially, substantively, substantially, basically, fundamentally, intrinsically

   Antonyms:

   circumstantially, happenstantially, incidentally, coincidentally, by chance, accidentally

2. (broadly) In most ways that matter; in all ways that matter.

   Synonyms:

   essentially, substantively, substantially, basically, fundamentally, more or less