born

adjective

ˈbȯrn How to pronounce born (audio)
Definition of bornnext
1
as in congenital
being such from birth or by nature a born artist and largely self-taught, John Singleton Copley was producing accomplished portraits by the time he was in his late teens

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in indigenous
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin a born Texan and very proud of it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 born Some team members, like Gregory and Chris, both 13 years old and born days apart, have been playing together since the age of 6 or 7. — Melanie Grayce West, WSJ, 21 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for born
  1. congenital
  2. indigenous
  3. natural
  4. native
  5. chronic
  6. aboriginal
Adjective
  • His brother had been born with a congenital condition and did not have a left hand.
    — Allie Torgan, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In December 2015, when Eva Benefield was just 14 years old, her mother, Renee Benefield, died suddenly from an undetected congenital heart defect.
    — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of congenital
Adjective
  • An estimated 4,600 people cycled through the three-day event to hear stories, take part in tribal dances, taste indigenous foods, and become immersed in a culture native to the land.
    — Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Helmed by chef Alexa Numkena-Anderson, the restaurant’s mission is an exploration of Native techniques and foodways, marrying North American ingredients with indigenous cooking.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of indigenous
Adjective
  • Kassebaum Baker died Friday of natural causes, according to her son, Bill Kassebaum.
    — John Hanna, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The guidance comes after residents cited noise, effects on wildlife and a desire to preserve natural areas used for recreation, hunting and fishing, according to a press release from the government of Greenland, Naalakkersuisut.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of natural
Adjective
  • Kendrick only found out about the event a day before and was already prepping for the upcoming Jackson Street Block Party in honor of Gary native Michael Jackson’s birthday.
    — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The crabs were first spotted in the Mediterranean Sea in the last century but really began wreaking havoc only around a decade ago, when their population surged, posing a threat both to native biodiversity and to the fishing industry.
    — Gennaro Tomma, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of native
Adjective
  • The maps revealed that a chronic problem had turned critical.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Bidets may also ease discomfort from hemorrhoids, fistulas and anal fissures, and help people with chronic diarrhea or conditions that require frequent wiping.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of chronic
Adjective
  • The injuries themselves aren’t too surprising; wild dingoes hunt kangaroos, and Aboriginal hunters worked with dingoes the same way people in other parts of the world have hunted with dogs for millennia.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
  • Australian aboriginal peoples, meanwhile, saw a great boomerang in the stellar formation, while the Native American Shawnee tribe envisioned dancing star maidens.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2026
Definition of aboriginal

Browse Nearby Words

boringly
born
borne
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Born.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/born. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gumption

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All