Synonym Chooser

How is the word congenital different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of congenital are hereditary, inborn, inbred, and innate. While all these words mean "not acquired after birth," congenital and hereditary refer to what is acquired before or at birth, the former to things acquired during fetal development and the latter to things transmitted from one's ancestors.

a congenital heart murmur
eye color is hereditary

When can inborn be used instead of congenital?

While the synonyms inborn and congenital are close in meaning, inborn suggests a quality or tendency either actually present at birth or so marked and deep-seated as to seem so.

her inborn love of nature

When could inbred be used to replace congenital?

Although the words inbred and congenital have much in common, inbred suggests something either acquired from parents by heredity or so deeply rooted and ingrained as to seem acquired in that way.

inbred political loyalties

When is innate a more appropriate choice than congenital?

The words innate and congenital can be used in similar contexts, but innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

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 congenital Dangers of pesticides Pesticides have been linked in studies to premature births, congenital malformations such as neural tube defects, spontaneous abortions and an increase in genetic damage in humans. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 11 June 2025 According to the National Institute of Health, the former is a congenital condition where part of the eye tissue is missing, while the latter is an underdeveloped eye. Eric Andersson, People.com, 31 May 2025 The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions. Devi Shastri, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025 Pulmonic stenosis is a congenital heart defect where the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs is obstructed, and a grade VI murmur is the most intense type of heart murmur, typically indicating a significant abnormality. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for congenital
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congenital
Adjective
  • Money, and his chronic lack of it, would worry him for the rest of his life.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
  • Follow-up studies of people aged between 52 and 89 showed that those aging rapidly were 60% more likely to develop dementia, 18% more likely to be diagnosed with chronic illnesses, and 40% more likely to die within the same period compared to those who were aging at a slower pace.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Shaw has said he was reborn after the shooting and years later would become a born-again Christian.
    Jordan Blum, Houston Chronicle, 9 June 2019
  • In his mid-40s, Mr. Phillips had quietly become a born-again Christian after attending a Billy Graham rally.
    James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 18 Jan. 2019
Adjective
  • The natural linen and cane come together beautifully with the wood accents.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 8 July 2025
  • This natural cause-and-effect helps build self-control in decision making, which is more effective than a lecture alone.
    ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • The extravagant, dissolute life Prince Albert II of Monaco continues to bolster arguments of those who think that hereditary monarchies should not be allowed to exist in the 21st century.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
  • In a world of hereditary monarchies, there was a very real possibility at the time of America’s founding that whoever gained power would refuse to hand it over when the time came.
    Frederic J. Fransen, Twin Cities, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Congenital.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congenital. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on congenital

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