Synonyms of congenital

congenital

adjective

kən-ˈje-nə-tᵊl 

as in chronic

being such from birth or by nature

a congenital liar who couldn't speak the truth if his life depended on it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chronic
• born
• natural
• hereditary
• regular
• constitutional
• native
• proper
• inveterate
• habitual
• incorrigible
• confirmed
• inborn
• ingrained
• innate
• inherent
• intrinsic
• elementary
• elemental
• unregenerate
• unreconstructed
• essential
• consummate
• engrained
• intimate
• instinctual
• intuitive
• connate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonnatural
• developed
• foreign
• trained
• cultivated
• unnatural
• alien

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

Recent Examples of congenital

At the age of 20 years old, Dominique Barnes gave birth to her son Phoenix in 2016, who was born with multiple congenital heart defects including tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025

The baby boy had problems breathing and feeding, and needed surgery to repair a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, where part of the bowel pierces through the diaphragm. —Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Meanwhile, Federici had been considering striking out on her own and launching an ad agency, in part because one of her twin daughters was born with a congenital heart disease, putting a new strain on her family’s finances. —Gigi Zamora, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025

Lexie, who had multiple heart surgeries at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne in the past, was transferred to the hospital in Northern Territory for inpatient management of her congenital heart condition in January 2022, per the document. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 5 July 2025