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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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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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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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 As an 'artificial friend' purchased for an ailing teen, Jenna Ortega tries hard to illuminate this misbegotten Kazuo Ishiguro adaptation, but Waititi's decision to play it for strained, whimsical comedy is ruinous. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026 To the right, artificial houseplants stand in a currently dry fountain bedecked in blue light, and presided over by statue holding a candelabra-style light fixture like a torch. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 The film is rife with theories as to why, in a city where bars have names like Ho Bots, people want artificial companions, and Klara’s immediate circle of friends are open to all options. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 Ben Williamson followed with a grounder that scooted underneath Ramírez’s glove and between his legs after the ball hit the edge where the artificial turf met the infield dirt. — Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 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
  • Some movements feel unnatural, facial expressions are exaggerated, and small details occasionally fall into the uncanny valley or break rules of logical consistency.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But closer examination reveals that OpenAI’s proof builds its unnatural force in a totally distinct way.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of unnatural
Adjective
  • When Lee gets to the visitation window, there’s a fake Mekko sitting across from him.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The fake image was attention-grabbing, shady, and timely — in other words, perfect for social media virality but a potential liability for the parties involved.
    — Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • Some dental floss manufacturers have been quietly moving away from the synthetic material PTFE, which helped their product slip smoothly between teeth.
    — Margaret Hetherman The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The result is a synthetic rhythm section—a voice mimicking a synthesizer that mimics a bass guitar—that precedes a very human chorus from Please, who does not sing so much as plead, several octaves higher.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • Rice could return in the coming week after suffering a strained hamstring.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026
  • As an 'artificial friend' purchased for an ailing teen, Jenna Ortega tries hard to illuminate this misbegotten Kazuo Ishiguro adaptation, but Waititi's decision to play it for strained, whimsical comedy is ruinous.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of strained
Adjective
  • The double-slit experiment, for example, is a classic setup where scientists send particles through two gaps in a screen and observe a resulting interference pattern, proving that the particles act as waves.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Saturday night, the Hurricanes outlasted Florida State, 43-35, the double overtime game adding another epic episode to the rivalry.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of double
Adjective
  • Her nose was also dotted with the faux freckles that were scattered across the bridge.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Zebra tablecloths and napkins completed the safari theme, and the walls were decorated with faux magazine covers of Bradfield and his partner, auctioneer William Featherby.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • Instead, the beleaguered quarterback continues to slide down mock draft boards as the season matures.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Testing sensors on canisters During the INL demonstration, researchers installed optical fibers outside a mock nuclear fuel canister and tested several arrangements to measure acoustic vibrations.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 2026.

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