1
as in unnatural
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
their artificial smiles did not make us feel very welcome
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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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
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Recent Examples of artificial
China fired warning flares at Philippine coast guard aircraft Thursday, the latest confrontation as Beijing militarizes artificial islands to expand its control over the contested waterway.
—
Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
An artificial surface is usually in place, so Houston is one of several stadiums that needs to have natural grass installed.
—Dean Jones, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The stock, which hit a 52-week high on Wednesday, is up about 47% so far this year thanks to soaring demand for its artificial-intelligence servers.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Instead, the company implemented alternatives like cheaper multi-packs with fewer bags; new versions of snacks without artificial colors; and snacks with higher protein and fiber, the outlet reported.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for artificial
Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
An artificial surface is usually in place, so Houston is one of several stadiums that needs to have natural grass installed.
—Dean Jones, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The stock, which hit a 52-week high on Wednesday, is up about 47% so far this year thanks to soaring demand for its artificial-intelligence servers.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Instead, the company implemented alternatives like cheaper multi-packs with fewer bags; new versions of snacks without artificial colors; and snacks with higher protein and fiber, the outlet reported.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for artificial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for artificial
Adjective
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One of the most unnatural things astronauts have experienced is being on the dark side of the Moon and unable to see Earth.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
19 Apr. 2026
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The words feel heavy and unnatural when O'Neal repeats them back to the doctor, like trying to blow a bubble and spitting out rocks instead.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last week accused Meta of failing to remove imposter accounts that Bragg said pose as organizations like Catholic Charities to offer fake immigration services that scam money from unsuspecting victims.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Brooke Sutton / Getty Images The pair allegedly used fake personal financial and bank statements, driver's licenses, and Secretary of State documents in an attempt to trick lenders into believing that the loans were for companies owned by the players.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Opioid overdose deaths have skyrocketed since about 2013, when synthetic opioids became more prevalent, according to the CDC.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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The book raised issues about conservation and the environmental problems caused by synthetic pesticides.—
Makenna Morrison Gary,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Rumors about the family's dynamic played out for months until Brooklyn posted a series of posts confirming the strained relationship.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
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The move follows several recent meetups in areas such as Navy Yard, where large groups of teens have flooded streets and strained police resources.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Sophomore shortstop Mikey Watson, an Illinois-Chicago commit, came up with a two-run double and drove in four runs for H-F (10-5).—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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In the bottom of the frame, a double by Mickey Moniak, followed by an RBI single by rookie TJ Rumfield cut Los Angeles’ lead to 2-1.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Clear coatings, faux corduroy indigo and a 4×4 right-hand twill modeled after a Swiss miliary wool fabric were among the novelties.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Nobody winds up a winner in Agon, let alone makes it out of these faux Olympics unscathed.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Many have given the 49ers an offensive tackle early in their mock drafts as a potential replacement for the 38-year-old Williams.—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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That’s it for our final mock draft of the 2026 NFL Draft season!—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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The pop of color offers a shimmer-free (rare!) means of warming up a wedding look and works equally well at lip level.—
Calin Van Paris,
Vogue,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Artificial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/artificial. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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