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
For instance, the visual cortices of congenitally blind people who had their sight restored are thicker and have a lower surface area than those of sighted people.
—
Sachin Rawat, Big Think, 2 Mar. 2026
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
Sachin Rawat, Big Think, 2 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congenitally
Adverb
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Even ideas that encourage acceptance, such as the popular notion that trans people inherently feel as if we’re born in the wrong body, can fail to fully capture the nuances of the experience.—
Isle McElroy,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
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That is inherently part of the endeavor.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
16 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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At shortstop, where the Rangers intend to keep him, Kim’s a fundamentally sound and instinctive defender.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Their participation would allow candidates to win by appealing to a wide portion of the electorate rather than to a party’s base, and this would fundamentally change the shape of our politics.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Congenitally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congenitally. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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