Synonyms of artificial

artificial

adjective

ˌär-tə-ˈfi-shᵊl 

1

as in unnatural

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality

their artificial smiles did not make us feel very welcome

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unnatural
• strained
• mock
• false
• fake
• mechanical
• simulated
• pseudo
• exaggerated
• plastic
• affected
• contrived
• factitious
• theatrical
• forced
• phony
• spurious
• bogus
• assumed
• cute
• feigned
• sham
• unreal
• hollow
• automatic
• put-on
• pretended
• manufactured
• empty
• unrealistic
• formal
• deliberate
• unauthentic
• conventional
• stiff
• wooden
• insincere
• pat
• hypocritical
• canned
• calculated
• fabricated
• conscious
• melodramatic
• hokey
• impersonal
• labored
• unctuous
• rigid
• facile
• stylized
• histrionic
• concocted
• cultivated
• mealy
• mincing
• artful
• inflexible
• overdone
• genteel
• premeditated
• two-faced
• cutesy
• simpering
• studied
• overacted
• left-handed
• mealymouthed
• overrefined
• double-dealing
• goody-goody

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• natural
• real
• genuine
• spontaneous
• unaffected
• realistic
• authentic
• right
• true
• artless
• bona fide
• sincere
• honest
• unforced
• easy
• smooth
• ingenuous
• uncontrived
• unfeigned
• unconscious
• instinctive
• effortless
• impromptu
• extemporaneous
• impulsive
• unpretending
• unstudied
• unrehearsed
• unprompted

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fake
• double
• lip
• strained
• superficial
• meaningless
• unnatural
• hollow
• mechanical
• counterfeit
• insincere
• hypocritical
• phony
• pretended
• false
• unctuous
• feigned
• backhanded
• pious
• phony-baloney
• mealy
• affected
• assumed
• jive
• simulated
• double-faced
• contrived
• empty
• dishonest
• forced
• two-faced
• Janus-faced
• mealymouthed
• left-handed
• double-dealing
• Pecksniffian
• deceitful
• sham
• glib
• put-on
• untruthful
• bogus
• facile
• devious
• claptrap
• sanctimonious
• facetious
• jocular
• tongue-in-cheek
• campy
• pharisaical
• simon-pure
• self-righteous
• canting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• genuine
• sincere
• artless
• honest
• heartfelt
• candid
• direct
• unfeigned
• plain
• open
• undesigning
• straightforward
• frank
• forthright
• heart-to-heart

3

as in synthetic

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials

artificial fruit made from wax

Synonyms & Similar Words

• synthetic
• faux
• simulated
• fake
• imitation
• dummy
• false
• imitative
• mock
• manufactured
• ersatz
• mimic
• factitious
• substitute
• bogus
• man-made
• counterfeit
• designer
• pretend
• sham
• process
• deceptive
• cultured
• manipulated
• engineered
• fabricated
• unauthentic
• pseudo
• forged
• misleading
• adulterated
• fraudulent
• concocted
• phony
• doctored
• spurious
• feigned
• fudged
• affected
• juggled
• tampered (with)
• pinchbeck
• brummagem

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• real
• natural
• genuine
• true
• legitimate
• authentic
• bona fide
• valuable
• pure
• quality
• premium
• unadulterated

4

as in nonnatural

produced by humans rather than natural processes

I find that artificial sweeteners often have an odd aftertaste

Synonyms & Similar Words

• synthetic
• nonnatural
• man-made
• processed
• manufactured
• mechanical
• industrial
• refined
• imitation
• fabricated
• cultivated
• faux
• ersatz

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• natural
• raw
• crude

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of artificial

Kristen Mazzarella, the executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, told the outlet that artificial lighting from nearby businesses and residences is likely to blame for the mass death. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026

Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, was forced to roll out a second artificial surface after the World Cup because its first attempt didn’t pass an independent lab test as required by the NFL and NFLPA. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Czinger employs proprietary artificial-intelligence applications along with next-gen construction methods based on additive manufacturing (think 3-D printing) and robotics—a system capable of remapping the industrial landscape across categories. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026

Hospitals that have addressed this artificial variability provide an important lesson. — Eugene Litvak, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026