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artificial

adjective

ˌär-tə-ˈfi-shᵊl How to pronounce artificial (audio)
Definition of artificialnext
1
as in unnatural
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality their artificial smiles did not make us feel very welcome

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express the familiar sight of the award winner accepting the artificial congratulations of the other nominees

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials artificial fruit made from wax

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in nonnatural
produced by humans rather than natural processes I find that artificial sweeteners often have an odd aftertaste

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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 artificial Los Angeles County uses a network of 27 spreading grounds, where artificial basins fill up when storms send torrents cascading down from the mountains into the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026 The key is to make the new hair fit the patient rather than forcing an artificial design. — Ascend Agency, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026 Historically, that sequence of early-evening moonlight was useful during the harvest, before artificial lighting made working after sunset straightforward. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2026 That’s too bad, because there’s something real and original about Singer that feels so out of place in the artificial paradise known as Hollywood. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for artificial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artificial
  1. unnatural
  2. fake
  3. synthetic
  4. strained
  5. double
  6. faux
  7. mock
  8. lip
Adjective
  • Generated by an internal large language model (LLM), OpenAI’s proof relies on an approach that many experts find unnatural.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Some deepfakes still have telltale flaws such as unnatural facial movements, lip-sync glitches, robotic speech or awkward pauses — but the technology is rapidly improving, a spokesperson for the organization said.
    — Emily Elconin for CNN, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of unnatural
Adjective
  • The Scarlet Knights ran a fake punt to convert a fourth and 21 for a 44-yard gain that sparked a touchdown drive to close the gap to three points.
    — Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The products, which sport fake USDA inspection labels, were distributed to grocery stores and restaurants across the United States.
    — Julia Hawkins, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • Researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have discovered that passing waves through a special class of synthetic media forces them to abandon chaotic scattering entirely.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
  • This helps keep your garden soil and plants free of synthetic chemicals and plastics.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • Faith and family healing Practical communication strategies can be valuable when relationships become strained.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • For too long, Washington failed to enforce our immigration laws, and the resulting chaos overwhelmed communities and strained resources nationwide.
    — Don Bacon, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of strained
Adjective
  • Rooms Faraway Sag Harbor has 67 guest rooms and suites, including a handful of lofts with double-height ceilings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The brand’s Exceptional Extraits generated more than 25 percent of sales and rose more than 80 percent, while sales from the Essence Collection, from a double-infusion process, were up more than 260 percent.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of double
Adjective
  • Xgimi includes a blocky, hard-shell case made of faux leather.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
  • This faux chili berry wreath trades the usual suspects for petite burgundy and pink berries and chartreuse leaves.
    — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • Alaïa’s oxblood jersey gown proves the point, with a high mock neck and figure-skimming silhouette that lets the fabric do the talking, before falling into a sweeping mermaid hem.
    — Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The quartet had arranged with Sheindlin a mock trial involving a dispute over the costs of Adler’s birthday party.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of mock
Adjective
  • Likewise, lip masks designed to be worn overnight can provide improved hydration and comfort over daytime treatments.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.
    — Essence, Essence, 23 Nov. 2025
Definition of lip

Browse Nearby Words

artifices
artificial
artificiality
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Cite this Entry

“Artificial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artificial. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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