Synonym Chooser

How is the word inborn different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of inborn are congenital, hereditary, inbred, and innate. While all these words mean "not acquired after birth," 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

How do congenital and hereditary relate to one another, in the sense of inborn?

Both 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 inbred be used instead of inborn?

The words inbred and inborn are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

In what contexts can innate take the place of inborn?

The synonyms innate and inborn are sometimes interchangeable, but innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

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 inborn Her looks and style seem inborn. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 But that look of inborn chic didn’t just happen. Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 Naturally, jumping styles are not necessarily inborn, immutable traits. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 Like so many inborn traits, the spiritual impulse for prayer can grow stronger, and just as easily grow weaker. Lynne Silva-Breen, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inborn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inborn
Adjective
  • Processing cheap rare earth is a nasty business using dangerous acid precursors that come with inherent risks, which bump up the prices of processing in the environmentally conscious West.
    Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Justin brings an inherent understanding of my company that is essential for its growth.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Baby Hope's case was officially reopened in 2019 after a technique called genetic genealogy proved successful in cracking long-term unsolved cases like the 1988 murder of April Marie Tinsley The process involves using public DNA databases to find close family members of an unknown person.
    Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
  • Only three states have set limits on how law enforcement may use genetic genealogy.
    July 13, CBS News, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • When work aligns with personal values, intrinsic motivation flourishes.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
  • Behind that, the bourbon’s intrinsic grain, vanilla, chocolate, and caramel notes buttress the palate, making this a unique sipper that would work really well in an Old Fashioned for coffee lovers.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • Pandora, a ceramicist and accessories designer, had Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare hereditary syndrome that can increase the risk of several types of cancer.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 9 July 2025
  • It is thought that most cases of vitiligo in pets are hereditary, PetMD suggests, but breeds at a higher risk of developing it include rottweilers, dachshunds, golden retrievers, Labradors, German shepherds, and German shorthaired pointers.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Regardless of whether the house is new or a resale, inspections are an integral part of the home-buying process.
    Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2025
  • The future, entailing advanced AI, shall become an integral part of their world.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • The truth is, digestion is an essential part of the wellness and health conversation.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 15 July 2025
  • Justin brings an inherent understanding of my company that is essential for its growth.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Quoting the late American historian Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, Horn said Jewish culture makes a distinction between history and memory, and Jews are more interested in memory: investing a historical event with eternal, inheritable meaning.
    Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Our vision is that the future of design will have a long lasting inheritable quality.
    Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inborn. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on inborn

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