as in hereditary
genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring
heritable characteristics like skin and eye and hair color
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Recent Examples of heritable
Longevity, the authors estimated, was about 25 percent heritable, meaning the remaining three quarters was determined by environmental factors and lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise.
—
Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
Temperament is partially heritable.
—Angela J. Narayan, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Most cases of early-onset cancer are not explained by a heritable factor, but Ng said those diagnosed with any cancer at a young age have a higher chance of being diagnosed with a hereditary syndrome, such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis.
—Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
It had been established that identical twins are quite a bit more similar in their IQ than fraternal twins and that intelligence differences are heritable in a limited statistical sense.
—Eric Turkheimer, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heritable
Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
Temperament is partially heritable.
—Angela J. Narayan, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Most cases of early-onset cancer are not explained by a heritable factor, but Ng said those diagnosed with any cancer at a young age have a higher chance of being diagnosed with a hereditary syndrome, such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis.
—Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
It had been established that identical twins are quite a bit more similar in their IQ than fraternal twins and that intelligence differences are heritable in a limited statistical sense.
—Eric Turkheimer, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heritable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heritable
Adjective
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One begins to think that the condition is hereditary—that, instead of a Habsburg jaw, the wealthy white denizens of New Orleans high society are saddled with emotional problems.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
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For example, mutations in myosin genes involved in inner ear function can cause hereditary hearing loss, as these proteins are essential for the proper operation of sensory hair cells.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The cases were further advanced through investigative genetic genealogy, which allowed detectives to identify possible relatives of the unknown suspect.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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Critics accused American Eagle and Sweeney of creating an ad that implied that white people from a European background have genetic superiority over everyone else.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And yet researchers examining muscle tissue from children with Duchenne have detected healthy cells capable of making normal dystrophin, evidence of a somatic mutation autocorrecting the inherited one.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Parliament voted to remove hereditary aristocrats from the House of Lords, ending a 700-year British political tradition of inherited seats.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Dias, on behalf of Owens’ estate, is seeking compensation for the past and future mental pain and suffering of Owens’ minor children, expenses of medical care and funeral arrangements arising from Owens’ death, loss of Owens’ prospective earnings and loss of inheritable estate.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Nov. 2025
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Citizenship strategy has moved from a fringe consideration to standard practice among high-net-worth families, with parents and grandparents increasingly viewing passports as a form of inheritable wealth.—
Alex Ohnona,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Whether measured in testosterone levels, bone density, lung capacity, or muscle mass, biological males carry inherent physical advantages over women.—
Lisa Frizell,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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The physical dangers inherent in productions at this time were inseparable from the stories appearing onscreen, because simulation was more or less impossible; filmmaking was analog.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heritable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heritable. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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