1The new policy is essentially the same as the old one, with just a few minor changes.
2Is the company essentially a family business, or are there outside investors?
3The new smartphone is essentially a smaller version of the previous model, with a few added features.
4If you essentially have the same skills as the other candidate, what makes you think you're the best fit for the job?
5The professor's argument was essentially that the economic benefits of the project outweighed the environmental costs.