synthetic

adjective

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syn·thet·ic | \ sin-ˈthe-tik

Definition of synthetic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : relating to or involving synthesis : not analytic the synthetic aspects of a philosophy

2 : attributing to a subject something determined by observation rather than analysis of the nature of the subject and not resulting in self-contradiction if negated — compare analytic

3 : characterized by frequent and systematic use of inflected forms to express grammatical relationships synthetic languages

4a(1) : of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis especially : produced artificially synthetic drugs synthetic silk

(2) : of or relating to a synfuel

b : devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities

c : factitious, bogus

synthetic

noun

Definition of synthetic (Entry 2 of 2)

: something resulting from synthesis rather than occurring naturally especially : a product (such as a drug or plastic) of chemical synthesis

Other Words from synthetic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about synthetic

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Synonyms & Antonyms for synthetic

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

natural

Examples of synthetic in a Sentence

Adjective that organic farm doesn't use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers boots of waterproof synthetic leather Noun The drug is a synthetic.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Synthetics and synthetic blends are also versatile materials. — Allen Foster, chicagotribune.com, "The best shorts for men," 23 Feb. 2021 Porsche is far from first to dip into synthetic-fuel research. — Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, "Porsche Working on Synthetic Fuel to Make ICE Cars as Clean as EVs," 23 Feb. 2021 Winter hiking boots usually have some kind of synthetic upper with a water-resistant membrane. — Outdoor Life, "Best Winter Boots for Men: Leather Boots, Insulated Work Boots, and More," 22 Feb. 2021 Instead, the star ingredient is propylene glycol, a clear synthetic liquid that absorbs moisture to make hair soft, hydrated, and manageable. — Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, "This $9.99 “Wonder” Product Transformed My Dry Hair," 22 Feb. 2021 But there could still be an important role for these synthetic copies of potent natural defenses. — Eric Boodman, STAT, "To get ahead of variants, Covid-19 drug makers use evolutionary biology as a guide," 22 Feb. 2021 Human brains use computer technology to create soulful, synthetic sounds. — Kat Bein, Billboard, "The 20 Best Daft Punk Songs," 22 Feb. 2021 Sublimation demos are some of the outrageous claims about synthetic snow posted to the internet in recent years. — Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY, "Fact check: Sublimation, not government conspiracy, explains snowmelt videos," 20 Feb. 2021 This means that heavy-duty detergents meant for cotton or synthetic fibers just simply won’t do. — Barry Samaha, Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Wash Silk at Home Like a Pro," 18 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Marino and Paulk, 22, replaced it with PEX pipe, a synthetic that’s more flexible than PVC or copper and is more resistant to extreme weather. — Dallas News, "Got burst pipes? These are the plumbers working to get Texas water flowing again," 19 Feb. 2021 Indianapolis drug maker Eli Lilly and Company decided to test all its new medications with the synthetic. — Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, "How the coronavirus vaccine relies on Maryland’s strangest fishery: horseshoe crabs," 31 Dec. 2020 The decision frustrated Ryan Phelan, director of Revive & Restore, a California wildlife conservation group that lobbied for the synthetic. — Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, "How the coronavirus vaccine relies on Maryland’s strangest fishery: horseshoe crabs," 31 Dec. 2020 The more expensive groups are more highly processed, in some cases with methods that produce a lubricant that can be classified as a synthetic. — Paul Weissler, Popular Mechanics, "How to Pick the Right Motor Oil for Your Car," 31 Aug. 2020 The synthetic will be listed in a separate chapter with different data requirements. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, "Crab Blood Can Save Your Life, but Not the Synthetic Stuff," 4 June 2020 The synthetic is 50 times more potent than heroin and legally used to help cancer patients in pain. — John Caniglia, cleveland, "A devastating trend: Fentanyl-laced cocaine overdoses raise major concerns across Ohio, new analysis shows," 29 Dec. 2019 Soon, bristles also succumbed to the siren song of synthetics. — National Geographic, "How your toothbrush became a part of the plastic crisis," 14 June 2019 Full Synthetic Oil: The oils made for high-tech engines, whether in a Chevy Corvette or Mercedes-Benz, are full of synthetics. — Paul Weissler, Popular Mechanics, "How to Pick the Right Motor Oil for Your Car," 14 Feb. 2019

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