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 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 Platt notes that this change in approach came at a time when popular ideas about race were shifting toward a focus on inborn, genetic differences. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 28 Jan. 2025 The biggest concern, according to eugenicists, was that these antisocial tendencies were inborn—that genes for crime and poverty were being smuggled into the country in the blood of immigrants. Arthur Caplan, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2024 Her looks and style seem inborn. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for inborn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inborn
Adjective
  • There are inherent risks in using these tools.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Bitcoin’s inherent technical strengths, combined with institutions’ vested interest in its success, position it to evolve into essential infrastructure that powers global markets.
    Luke Xie, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Later experiments appeared to confirm what Prentice’s genetic data suggested.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Humans carry a similar genetic toolkit, but their regulation and activity are vastly different.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • These children are more likely to develop a strong intrinsic locus of control, which leaves them less vulnerable to anxiety and depression later in life.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement No—provided that the money is not the point, provided that what matters to one’s work as a philosopher is intrinsic, not instrumental.
    Belinda Luscombe, Time, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Intellia Therapeutics — The gene editing company rallied almost 6% after Citizens JMP upgraded the stock to market outperform and hiked its price target to $33 on enthusiasm for its hereditary angioedema treatment trial.
    Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For this longest time, a thorough fall clean-up of planting beds was an integral part of the traditional garden routine to tidy up after the gardening season and prepare for spring.
    Benjamin Vogt, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Roufus was integral to his and his brother's success, according to Pettis.
    Cleo Krejci, jsonline.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The last thing an inherited home or property should bring about is unnecessary stress or financial strain.
    Ronny Maye, Essence, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Coaching again focused on thinking, teaching participants to engage in generative conversations about inherited truths, surfacing blind spots and nurturing innovation.
    Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Such knowledge is essential for designing safer storage strategies for nuclear and industrial waste in the coming centuries.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Given that the host cities for next year’s World Cup stretch from Vancouver to Mexico City, adapting to different climates will be essential.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • These shares are also inheritable, allowing them to be passed on to heirs.
    Daniela Sanjinés, The Conversation, 22 July 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Inborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inborn. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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