as in inherently
by natural character or ability
she appeared to be congenitally incapable of telling the truth
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Recent Examples of congenitally
The best candidates are those whose philtrums are congenitally long or have lengthened with age.
—
Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
For years, despite a lifetime of surgeries for congenitally dislocated hips, as well as joint replacements and cancer treatment, Glenna Mills, an artist in Oakland, California, told herself that she was not disabled.
—Paula Span, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Older, dominant, or cognitively impaired dogs may struggle more, while younger or congenitally blind dogs often adapt faster.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
For years, despite a lifetime of surgeries for congenitally dislocated hips, as well as joint replacements and cancer treatment, Glenna Mills, an artist in Oakland, California, told herself that she was not disabled.
—Paula Span, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Older, dominant, or cognitively impaired dogs may struggle more, while younger or congenitally blind dogs often adapt faster.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congenitally
Adverb
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Ultimately, no compelling research has emerged to bear out the idea that MSG is inherently bad.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
23 Feb. 2026
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This isn’t to say that the Rangers have officially given Smith the job, or that Seager’s word is inherently bond, but rather that the 28-year-old appears to have a sizable lead in the race.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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The ruling is a reminder that some judges view antitrust lawsuits over Division I athlete eligibility as fundamentally a question of economic competition—namely, an athlete selling their services to the marketplace of college buyers—rather than an educational or social issue.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Feb. 2026
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This unnerving Australian indie follows a single mother and her troubled young son, whose lives are fundamentally changed forever upon discovering a pop-up book called Mister Babadook.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Congenitally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congenitally. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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