inner 1 of 2

adjective

ˈi-nər How to pronounce inner (audio)
Definition of innernext
1
as in interior
situated farther in an inner area of the national park that is some distance from the nearest road

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in internal
of or relating to the mind kept his inner life private

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

inner

2 of 2

noun

as in within

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 inner
Adjective
Beyond the inner display, both devices take different approaches to their outer screens. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 25 July 2026 Pro tips The biggest mistake beginners make with pencil eyeliner is attempting to draw one flawless, uninterrupted stroke from the inner corner to the outer corner. — Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026
Noun
Again, the inner and the outer world. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026 Many mowers feature an inner and an outer air filter. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for inner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inner
  1. interior
  2. internal
  3. within
  4. inside
  5. mental
  6. psychological
Adjective
  • Mostly an interior tackle, Echoles did a little bit of everything up front for the Rebels in his sophomore season (39 pressures as a first-year starter).
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The effect here is powerful and brings in the road and the landscape rather than the noise of interior controls and screens.
    — Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of interior
Adjective
  • Adobe's Aaliyah Taylor, a Senior Community Events Manager, faces internal debate over her strong personal brand being an asset or liability.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • In Montana, Marshall Bloom, an associate director at Rocky Mountain Labs, told the Ravalli County Board of Health in a July meeting that the scientists have been suspended and aren’t allowed on campus amid an internal NIH investigation.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of internal
Noun
  • This almost iridescent highlighter is a great example of how to use shimmer for a lit-from-within, ethereal glow.
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 20 July 2026
  • Beauty-from-within has become a major movement.
    — Sara Braun, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
Definition of within
Adjective
  • The velocity was rising each inning and his pitch count was low, but Andruw Monasterio clipped an inside pitch for a double down the left-field line for Boston’s first hit.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 July 2026
  • The trio scored 31 points to edge Seattle’s three in the finals, with Banks hitting two of the 4-point shots from just inside halfcourt to put the team over the top.
    — Doug Feinberg, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of inside
Adjective
  • So kudos to the extras who steal scenes from them in the background, flailing like avant-garde dancers when a vicious mental parasite leaps from grandmothers to joggers to security guards on a quest to find something awful.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • Life can change in an instant, and someone in a precarious mental state may seem to be improving before taking a sharp turn for the worse.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of mental
Adjective
  • Higher levels of openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were tied to better psychological well-being and engaging in more leisure activities in older age.
    — Refractor, Refractor, 27 July 2026
  • This psychological phenomenon explains why initial impressions can be so strong, leading managers to react differently to similar employees, seeing confidence in one and arrogance in another.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of psychological

Phrases Containing inner

Browse Nearby Words

innately
inner
inner cities
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inner. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on inner

Nglish: Translation of inner for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of spindrift

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All