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Don't Get Stuck on the Meaning of Inherent
Inherent literally refers to something that is "stuck in" something else so firmly that they can't be separated. A plan may have an inherent flaw that will cause it to fail; a person may have inherent virtues that everyone admires. Since the flaw and the virtues can't be removed, the plan may simply have to be thrown out and the person will remain virtuous forever.
Examples of inherent in a Sentence
It is one more proof that our world has lost the kind of exquisite sensibility displayed by John Milton when he came up with his definition of poetry. He first wrote "simple, sensual, and passionate," but he was bothered by the grossness inherent in "sensual," and so he invented the word "sensuous."
—
Florence King, National Review, 24 Sept. 2007
There were those who trusted the innate goodness of humanity, and those who believed in its inherent crookedness.
—Terry Eagleton, Harper's, March 2005
The problem … is inherent and perennial in any democracy, but it has been more severe in ours during the past quarter-century because of the near universal denigration of government, politics and politicians.
—Michael Kinsley, Time, 29 Oct. 2001
He has an inherent sense of fair play.
an inherent concept of justice
Florence King, National Review, 24 Sept. 2007
There were those who trusted the innate goodness of humanity, and those who believed in its inherent crookedness.
—Terry Eagleton, Harper's, March 2005
The problem … is inherent and perennial in any democracy, but it has been more severe in ours during the past quarter-century because of the near universal denigration of government, politics and politicians.
—Michael Kinsley, Time, 29 Oct. 2001
He has an inherent sense of fair play.
an inherent concept of justice
Recent Examples on the Web
This description captures both the ambition and the inherent tension in this evolution.
—Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
But Next Time? The fast-moving conflict between India and Pakistan last week demonstrated the inherent dangers of the modern nuclear age.
7h agoBy W.J. Hennigan
TODAYS FRONT PAGES
Edition:
INYT - Page Two
Harvard Law Paid $27 for a Copy of Magna Carta.
—Ben Hubbard Saumya Khandelwal Matthew Defeo W.j. Hennigan, New York Times, 15 May 2025
The inherent drama of the story recalls another cinematic nail biter, The Rescue, Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s documentary about the effort to save kids stranded in a flooded cave in Thailand (that story was also turned into a Ron Howard narrative film called Thirteen Lives).
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 May 2025
On the other hand, the Carney meeting underscored the dangers inherent in Trump’s excessively transactional approach to foreign relations and economic policy.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inherent
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Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
But Next Time? The fast-moving conflict between India and Pakistan last week demonstrated the inherent dangers of the modern nuclear age.
7h agoBy W.J. Hennigan
TODAYS FRONT PAGES
Edition:
INYT - Page Two
Harvard Law Paid $27 for a Copy of Magna Carta.
—Ben Hubbard Saumya Khandelwal Matthew Defeo W.j. Hennigan, New York Times, 15 May 2025
The inherent drama of the story recalls another cinematic nail biter, The Rescue, Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s documentary about the effort to save kids stranded in a flooded cave in Thailand (that story was also turned into a Ron Howard narrative film called Thirteen Lives).
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 May 2025
On the other hand, the Carney meeting underscored the dangers inherent in Trump’s excessively transactional approach to foreign relations and economic policy.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inherent
Cite this Entry
“Inherent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inherent. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inherent
adjective
in·her·ent
in-ˈhir-ənt 
-ˈher-
: belonging to or being a part of the nature of a person or thing
an inherent sense of fair play
fluidity is an inherent quality of gas
inherently
adverb
Medical Definition
inherent
adjective
in·her·ent
in-ˈhir-ənt
in-ˈher-
in-ˈher-
: involved in the constitution or essential character of something : belonging by nature
the skin's inherent elasticity—Kathleen C. Engles
Kathleen C. Engles
inherently
adverb
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