HEREDITY Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

heredity

noun

Definition of heredity

as in blood

formal the natural process by which physical and mental qualities are passed from a parent to a child Heredity plays no part in the disease.

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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 heredity His second album, Baby—a meditation on heredity, shredded and reconstituted in a $10 DJ program—was released to rapturous acclaim in August. — Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 8 Dec. 2025 To truly understand genes and heredity, researchers had to learn to read the DNA code. — Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025 In short, heredity advancement driven by desire. — D. Scott Schmid, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025 For people who are profoundly deaf, there is an interruption of the sound signal to the auditory nerve, which can be caused by illness, trauma, or heredity. — IEEE Spectrum, 27 Jan. 2022 See All Example Sentences for heredity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heredity

Noun

After being implanted beneath the skin of their backs, the tissues developed their own blood supply and began to contract spontaneously.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Among adult pedestrians killed in nighttime crashes, about a third had blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication; so did about 20% of those killed during the day.

— Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of blood

Noun

After 36 years, investigators were able to match DNA to her sister, Tania Buchanan, through genetic genealogy.

— Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Sep. 2026
The deputy had previously tried to pursue genetic genealogy through one grant process, but the results didn’t pan out.

— Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of genealogy

Noun

The company doesn’t appear to have a formal succession plan — something governance experts say is critical to mitigating key-person risk and ensuring shareholders don’t panic if tragedy strikes.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
While sitting next to her at Sant Ambroeus in New York, Twine is as light and calm as ever, despite experiencing such pivotal life accomplishments in such quick succession.

— Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of succession

Noun

The ash campaign differs from the push to save elm trees because the elm drive is a breeding program rather than an inoculation effort.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
From ash trees on the Appalachian Trail to century-old elms in Vermont’s capital, emerging treatments and breeding programs offer a rare, hopeful counterpoint to widespread insect and disease damage.

— Amanda Swinhart, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of breeding

Noun

Richard Gere’s Life Now The actor moved to his wife’s home country of Spain with their two sons at the end of 2024 so Silva could be closer to her relatives.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
One day, her teen-age daughter, on the way to choir practice, witnessed ICE detaining someone outside her bus; Bre sent her children to stay with relatives in the suburbs.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of relatives

Noun

According to Census data taken between 2019 and 2023, the number of residents of Italian ancestry in Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront District was down 25 percent over the previous 13 years.

— Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
But Shanes questioned whether grouping Jews under a single ethnic category would produce sufficiently specific data for those purposes, or instead obscure differences among Jewish populations with distinct ancestries.

— Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancestry

Noun

These folks include my sister, two brothers and a beloved SIL, all who’ve been a loving part of our 41-year-old’s life since birth.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
These counties have no hospitals or birth centers providing obstetric care, and no obstetric clinician.

— Kayley Corley, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of birth

Noun

In our efforts to reciprocate with some updates about our family, the wife would interject within a sentence or two of our contribution to hijack the conversation back to talking about her family.

— R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026
The role of companies Singapore’s new scheme shifts from merely encouraging births to focus on family well-being over the long term, which might help change how potential parents think about children.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of family

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heredities

heredity

hereinbelow

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“Heredity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heredity. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of heredity

noun

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