Synonyms and related words :
axiom, bench mark, best part, better part, body, bulk, cardinal point, center, chief thing, climax, core, cornerstone, crisis, critical point, crux, elixir, essence, essential, essential matter, flower, focus, fundamental, generality, gist, great point, heart, high point, hypostasis, important thing, inner essence, issue, kernel, keystone, landmark, main body, main point, main thing, major part, majority, marrow, mass, material point, meat, milestone, most, nub, nucleus, nuts and bolts, pith, pivot, plurality, postulate, principle, quid, quiddity, quintessence, real issue, salient point, sap, sine qua non, soul, spirit, stuff, substance, substantive point, the bottom line, the nitty-gritty, the point, thrust, turning point