Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of innate are congenital, hereditary, inborn, and inbred. While all these words mean "not acquired after birth," innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

How are the words congenital and hereditary related as synonyms of innate?

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 would inborn be a good substitute for innate?

The meanings of inborn and innate largely overlap; however, 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

When might inbred be a better fit than innate?

The synonyms inbred and innate are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

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 innate They’re colloquially referred to as the comedians of the zodiac, captivating everyone around them with their innate humor and magnetic charm. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025 His innate sense of style and eye for detail align perfectly with our passion for making beautiful garments, rooted in quality and craft. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2025 Her artistry is innate, a purpose she was meant to cultivate. Essence, 18 Sep. 2025 Enlisting our innate immune systems to help us combat cancer is one of the most promising, modern ways to deal with the disease. New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for innate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innate
Adjective
  • Yet once someone had suggested the inherent instability in a relationship between writers, there seemed to be no way to defuse the assessment.
    Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
  • In the 13-episode epic, Our Blues’ Kim Woo-bin stars as Iblis, a Satanic genie who is utterly convinced of humanity’s inherent greed.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The reinvention of key car parts has been intrinsic since the world championship began in 1950.
    Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Many wisdoms intrinsic to permaculture long predate the term—it cannot be understated how much stems from indigenous knowledge and was passed down from generations before, from these ancestral stewards who listened to, and trusted, the land.
    Catherine Habgood September 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Wharton has played an integral part in Crystal Palace’s superb start to the season.
    Rob Tanner, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The contest, the first of its kind, is a cultural initiative promoted by the administration of Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, who seeks to change the narratives of violence in Mexican music as an integral part of her government’s policy for peace and against addiction.
    Natalia Cano, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Caroline Ervin, landscape designer and owner of The Georgetown Garden Shop, told shrubs that produce berries in the fall are especially valuable during migration season, offering essential nutrition to birds in need of high-fat, energy-rich foods.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Cross-cultural exchanges were also essential to the project.
    Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Innate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on innate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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