Synonym Discussion of essential. essential, fundamental, vital, cardinal mean so important as to be indispensable. essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character conflict is essential in drama.
The definition of a cretin is a very stupid person, or a person suffering from the disease cretinism, which causes mental problems and deformity. An example of a cretin is a person who constantly makes stupid and horrible mistakes. 2  An example of a cretin is someone with physical deformities due to the disease.
cretinism. cretinism (krÄËtÉnÄ­zËÉm) [ key ], condition produced in infants and children due to lack of thyroid hormone. It usually results from a congenital defect (e.g., absence of the thyroid, presence of only a rudimentary gland, inability of the gland to produce thyroxine).retinism. cretinism (krÄËtÉnÄ­zËÉm) [ key ], condition produced in infants and children due to lack of thyroid hormone. It usually results from a congenital defect (e.g., absence of the thyroid, presence of only a rudimentary gland, inability of the gland to produce thyroxine).