anthropomorphize

verb

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an·thro·po·mor·phize | \ ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈmȯr-ˌfīz

How to pronounce anthropomorphize (audio)

anthropomorphized; anthropomorphizing

Definition of anthropomorphize

transitive verb

: to attribute human form or personality to

intransitive verb

: to attribute human form or personality to things not human

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Examples of anthropomorphize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Please be aware that there is an ongoing and dangerous tendency these days to anthropomorphize AI. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, "Bird’s-Eye View To Provide Self-Driving Cars With Some Needed Computational Omnipresence," 19 Apr. 2021 Often people anthropomorphize with good intentions, to explain a concept, process or event—such as a novel virus—that is not easily understood. — Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, "Why This Pandemic Won’t Be the Last," 5 Mar. 2021 Commentators tend to anthropomorphize the most prominent independent government institutions: the Roberts Court and the Powell Fed. — Kevin Warsh, WSJ, "The Fed Puts Its Independence on the Line," 7 Sep. 2020 As solitaries continue to find their way into the hearts of coastal communities, there is a chance to put our tendency to anthropomorphize them to good use. — Cathleen O'grady, Smithsonian Magazine, "A Dolphin Has Been Living Solo in This Irish Harbor for Decades," 22 July 2020 Many cartoonishly anthropomorphize the virus, giving them googly eyes and emoji-like faces. — Washington Post, "Covid-shaped cakes and cupcakes are popping up in fine-dining restaurants, bakeries and home kitchens around the world," 9 July 2020 Similar anthropomorphized food fads followed — from Morris the Cat, the finicky spokes-feline for 9Lives, to Snausagesin a Blanket. — Roy Rivenburg, Los Angeles Times, "Is that a cricket in the dog bowl? There’s no shortage of exotic and luxury pet food," 8 Apr. 2020 Many trainers take a dim view of babying and otherwise anthropomorphizing our pets. — Peter Haldeman, New York Times, "The Secret Price of Pets," 4 July 2018 For those of us who tend to anthropomorphize our cars, Hey Mercedes might lead to a whole new level of automotive codependence. — Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, "Watch As We Show How Hey Mercedes Voice Assistant Gives Your Car Attitude," 23 Mar. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anthropomorphize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

26 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Anthropomorphize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropomorphize. Accessed 11 May. 2021.

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