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

Relevance
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 His post makes no mention of upcoming future dates in the tour, nor expounds on the nature of the threat. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025 These moves are of a malign nature. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 The seasonal event often draws the attention of nature enthusiasts, photographers, scientists and more. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025 Back across the Atlantic, the very nature of such polemic appears under threat. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nature
Noun
  • Thus unleashed, my childhood self would go mad with unchecked power, petulantly turning dials just to see what happened to the citizens in my virtual ant farm.
    Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The characters are no longer their evergreen middle school selves; in the musical version, the founding members of the BSC (Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey) are now 25 years old and returning to Stoneybrook after the club has been disbanded.
    De Elizabeth, Parents, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The manhunt has been especially difficult because Decker is an Army veteran skilled in wilderness survival and had a three-day head start.
    Holly Yan, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
  • On either side of the cool, free-flowing river, hollows flanking the water conceal outtakes from another time—from prehistoric sites dating back thousands of years to untamed wilderness and waterfalls left wholly untouched.
    Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The players have responded to that unrelenting positivity in kind.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
  • These sauces are perfect for pasta bakes, homemade pizzas, and quick weeknight dinners of all kinds.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The disposition of lawmakers themselves also impacts how much staffers interact with their counterparts across the aisle.
    Mike Lillis, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Involvement in structuring joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, activist takeover and defense, financing arrangements, and similar matters will all be considered.
    Liane Jackson, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That a collaborative hive is the essence of bee-ness is a common misconception.
    Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the essence of Mars in Scorpio sharpens your focus and heightens your passion around career matters.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • More Disney/Eric McCandless ABC is expanding its Dancing With the Stars universe with a new official podcast hosted by Season 33 champion Joey Graziadei.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This is because a living personality always possesses will.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The source of Nora’s flighty, noncommital personality is never explained.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Over the last half-century, California has had seven governors — counting Jerry Brown twice — who varied widely in temperament, ideology and efficacy.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Serving as a mascot for the museum, the donkeys have a distinct gray coat with a black cross on their backs and a calm and friendly temperament.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nature. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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