1
as in self
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others it was the grotesque nature of his stories that made them a challenge to get published in mainstream magazines her nature was such that lying was never an option for her the stoic nature of that family enables them to endure one calamity after another

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in wilderness
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation needed to get out of the office and back to nature in order to clear his head

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in kind
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common group together anything round: buttons, lids, coins, and other things of that nature

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
6
as in universe
the whole body of things observed or assumed the belief that all of nature is controlled by an unseen Supreme Being

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word nature distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of nature are character, description, kind, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

Where would character be a reasonable alternative to nature?

Although the words character and nature have much in common, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of nature?

The synonyms description and nature are sometimes interchangeable, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When can kind be used instead of nature?

In some situations, the words kind and nature are roughly equivalent. However, kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When would sort be a good substitute for nature?

While the synonyms sort and nature are close in meaning, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can type take the place of nature?

The words type and nature are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

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 nature Kick off the Nature Journaling Club with a session on various journaling methods, observational skills, and sensory exercises to deepen your connection with nature. Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025 Experts raised concerns about the subjective nature of the rule, its effect on free speech and potential delays on the application process. Emily Goodin, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2025 And our northern neighbor is the only country with two destinations in the top five, demonstrating its appeal as a place for escapes into nature. Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 20 Aug. 2025 There isn’t anything of an evidentiary nature that proves this to be the case. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nature
Noun
  • But when Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s was winning the biggest awards in audio journalism, Walker’s triumph was tempered by the fact that Gimlet itself was a husk of its former self.
    Eric Benson, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Show Up As Your Authentic Self Show up publicly as your authentic self, clearly articulating your core values and unique approach.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Wright does a fantastic job at heightening the material through a fairy tale aesthetic, with the snowy wilderness acting as an enchanted forest of sorts, with Marissa filling the wicked stepmother/witch role, and with Hanna acting as both a hunter and child in peril.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Steve taught me how to travel soundlessly through the lowland wilderness.
    Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • They’re wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks, are flatter and more rectangular in shape, and are about three times the size of the kind traditionally steamed in corn husks (perfect for sharing).
    Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • All questions of any kind as posed by the user will become tainted, and responses will veer from answers given to other users.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The building is one that has been listed as an asset identified for accelerated disposition, meaning it could be sold in the future to save the federal government money.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Tessa Delicatessen chopped cheese Sandwich shop owner Vince Howard views the BRT line construction with a sunnier disposition.
    Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Overall, the performances from these past two days captured the essence of breaking about as well as possible given the context.
    Jason Pu, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Four of the Harry Potter: Houses of Hogwarts x Krispy Kreme Collection pay homage to the four houses — Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw — and the last of the lineup has an inconspicuous appearance but the essence of the Sorting Hat.
    Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Much of Gilbert’s early work displays an awareness of both the profundity and the transience of romance, and of the many different universes that one life can open into or contain.
    Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
  • What followed were two touches from another universe.
    Max Mathews, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The movie features pervasive positivity, one really cool canine, a bright comic book aesthetic and a fresh superhero landscape filled with colorful personalities.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Our conversation was a masterclass—part strategy session, part reality check, and part therapy for anyone who’s ever been trapped in the emotional spin cycle these personalities create.
    Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The two men have bad hair and unpredictable temperaments, but beyond that the similarities dissipate quickly.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
  • That wasn’t a good fit for his talents and temperament, either.
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 10 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nature. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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