Definition of naturenext
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 When the harvest is ripe, residents of the Peacock Tract Community in Montgomery, Alabama, gather to enjoy nature’s bounty — free of charge. Adam Stone, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026 The show, which runs through March 28, has a blistering message to impart about the insidious nature of authoritarian political movements and the dangers of being oblivious or indifferent. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026 Unlike men who exploited humoral theory and biblical myths to denigrate women’s bodies and minds, Hildegard valorized the contribution of female difference to nature’s grand scheme. Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026 Recently reimagined by the nature-forward brand Terra Vi, the 1929 property now balances its trading-post heritage with a contemporary Southwestern polish. Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nature
Noun
  • Your intense focus thrives when self-judgment softens.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
  • The event involves no less than three after-parties, and the film bounces between Nick’s future self and Mike trying to prevent Present Nick from serving him up on a silver platter to Sosa while Jimmy Boy is busy enjoying his newfound freedom to its debauched fullest.
    Stephen Saito, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Arriving in the Coachella Valley, with its impossibly blue skies and neighboring Joshua Tree wilderness, one's sense of scale and perspective soon recalibrates; a prerequisite, perhaps, for experiencing a city that has long served as refuge.
    Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
  • At the southernmost tip of South America lies a 400,000-acre wilderness once considered too desolate to survive.
    Mark Johanson, Outside, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • One kind and patient spectator conscripted to play the school counselor had to remove her shoe to improvise a sock puppet, one of the tools of her empathetic practice.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The Sacramento International Airport launched outposts of three local restaurants and a first-of-its-kind cafe and market concept Thursday as part of its major dining overhaul project.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Leslie Hairston, a former City Council colleague of Preckwinkle’s whose South Side ward abutted hers, said Preckwinkle’s scholarly disposition shouldn’t be mistaken for indifference.
    A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Another example of the voluntary nature of her disposition.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The film’s direction, combined with the film’s cinematography, focuses on the mythological essence of Elefsina and the mysterious shipwrecks hidden in the darkness of its seabed.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Tarasoff’s parents were, in essence, asking the court to impose a duty on therapists to ignore patient confidentiality laws and warn potential victims of their patients.
    Virginia Hammerle, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Mercy Culture’s pastors have come to play an increasingly prominent role in the MAGA universe.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Over the years, my sisters and I have struggled through clashing personalities, intense disagreements and wonky power dynamics.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
  • The books also reflect elements of Grace's personality.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The dog’s temperament isn’t the only thing under consideration.
    Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Calvert-Lewin’s miss was entirely self-inflicted, of course, but the manner of Gudmundsson’s dismissal — the injustice of it — can poison a team’s collective temperament.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Nature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nature. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

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