Synonyms of innate

innate

adjective

i-ˈnāt 

as in inherent

being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing

an innate athletic ability that allowed him to excel at just about any sport he tried his hand at

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inherent
• intrinsic
• integral
• essential
• inborn
• hereditary
• natural
• constitutional
• inherited
• indigenous
• inner
• ingrained
• constitutive
• native
• immanent
• inbred
• hardwired
• fundamental
• congenital
• elemental
• engrained
• basic
• distinctive
• built-in
• internal
• characteristic
• ingrain
• peculiar
• in one's blood
• deep-rooted
• interior
• habitual
• normal
• typical
• inmost
• inveterate
• regular

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extrinsic
• foreign
• extraneous
• adventitious
• alien
• accidental
• incidental
• surface
• coincidental
• acquired
• external
• superficial
• exterior
• adscititious

Synonym Chooser

How is the word innate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of innate are congenital, hereditary, inborn, and inbred. While all these words mean "not acquired after birth," innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

How are the words congenital and hereditary related as synonyms of innate?

Both congenital and hereditary refer to what is acquired before or at birth, the former to things acquired during fetal development and the latter to things transmitted from one's ancestors.

a congenital heart murmur

eye color is hereditary

When would inborn be a good substitute for innate?

The meanings of inborn and innate largely overlap; however, inborn suggests a quality or tendency either actually present at birth or so marked and deep-seated as to seem so.

her inborn love of nature

When might inbred be a better fit than innate?

The synonyms inbred and innate are sometimes interchangeable, but inbred suggests something either acquired from parents by heredity or so deeply rooted and ingrained as to seem acquired in that way.

inbred political loyalties

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of innate

Expanding the bat toolbox: Carollia perspicillata bat cell lines and reagents enable the characterization of viral susceptibility and innate immune responses Avery Hurt is a freelance science journalist. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2025

Despite its innate confidence and charisma, its fiery levels of assertion could come across as overbearing. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 16 May 2025

It’s called the biophilia theory, which suggests humans have an innate desire to seek connection with nature and other forms of life. —Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 14 May 2025

The Peacock series — which follows Lyonne’s Charlie, a woman with an innate ability to flawlessly determine when someone is lying, who, while on the run, gets caught up in a bizarre new mystery at every stop — debuted in 2023 to wide acclaim, receiving a season 2 order just weeks into its run. —EW.com, 13 May 2025