as in foreign
being, relating to, or characteristic of a country other than one's own
nonnative customs that made the recent immigrants stand out in their new country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stranger
a person who is not native to or known to a community
the problems encountered by a nonnative after moving into a close-knit community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nonnative
Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The fire trend is linked to the proliferation of nonnative and highly flammable grasses, particularly on fallowed landscapes once used for sugar and pineapple plantations.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
At American firms, accent bias can quietly shape whose ideas gain traction at work by depressing attention and engagement for speakers with nonnative English accents.
—Aliah Zewail, Harvard Business Review, 17 Mar. 2026
Points are also given for sustainable practices, with activities in at least two of four categories – soil and water conservation, controlling nonnative species, reducing pollution and reduce/reuse/recycle.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
South Florida already contends with invasive Burmese pythons, iguanas, and other nonnative species that disrupt local ecosystems.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
The Sepulveda Basin has seen numerous brush fires in recent years, with the most being the Burbank fire in August 2024, which blackened 75 acres of almost entirely invasive, nonnative plants.
—Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
Many are native, but too many are nonnative and invasive.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
Even on the reservation, Jason, Eastern Shoshone like his dad, and Patti, a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, faced challenges to the idea from cattle ranchers both Native and nonnative.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The Orange County campus’ beautiful garden hosts its annual spring sale, with hundreds of edible plants available, plus dozens of California native and nonnative plants.
—Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The fire trend is linked to the proliferation of nonnative and highly flammable grasses, particularly on fallowed landscapes once used for sugar and pineapple plantations.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
At American firms, accent bias can quietly shape whose ideas gain traction at work by depressing attention and engagement for speakers with nonnative English accents.
—Aliah Zewail, Harvard Business Review, 17 Mar. 2026
Points are also given for sustainable practices, with activities in at least two of four categories – soil and water conservation, controlling nonnative species, reducing pollution and reduce/reuse/recycle.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
South Florida already contends with invasive Burmese pythons, iguanas, and other nonnative species that disrupt local ecosystems.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
The Sepulveda Basin has seen numerous brush fires in recent years, with the most being the Burbank fire in August 2024, which blackened 75 acres of almost entirely invasive, nonnative plants.
—Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
Many are native, but too many are nonnative and invasive.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
Even on the reservation, Jason, Eastern Shoshone like his dad, and Patti, a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, faced challenges to the idea from cattle ranchers both Native and nonnative.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonnative
Adjective
-
Pakistan’s government has set up a state-of-the-art media center to facilitate Pakistani and foreign journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The handshake with Xi in the ornate East Hall at the Great Hall of the People, a space normally used for meeting foreign heads of state, underscored the reversal in political beliefs for Cheng.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Online and offline, motherhood has started to resemble a real-life Truman Show — a performance carried out under constant observation, where strangers across the country appoint themselves judge and jury.—
Micah Barkley,
Bloomberg,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Like any well-meaning grifter, Anna (Halle Bailey) seizes the opportunity to hop a flight to picturesque Tuscany after meeting a handsome Italian stranger with an empty villa.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The family near Kabul was among the millions of Afghan refugees who have recently returned from Iran and Pakistan, after both countries launched crackdowns in 2023 on foreigners — particularly Afghans — living in their countries.—
Elena Becatoros,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Like every guide with the foreign tour operator Intourist, she was vaguely affiliated with the secret services (KGB) and so filled out reports about her interactions with foreigners that no one read.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ortiz, 42, plays Rocky, an arachnoid alien made of stone-like material, who befriends Grace.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The group meets a dying alien of the Andalite race, which has been fighting the Yeerks and their expansion across the galaxy.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonnative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonnative. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
