man-made

adjective

ˈman-ˈmād How to pronounce man-made (audio)
Definition of man-madenext
1
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials man-made diamonds that were really just glass

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2
as in artificial
produced by humans rather than natural processes the houses in the new development are built around a man-made lake

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 man-made Synthetic, man-made, and natural fibers can all contribute to environmental burdens, depending on how the textiles are processed and treated. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026 According to Fauci, 10 of the 12 scientists thought the virus was man-made in a lab. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 29 July 2026 Whatever the outcome — sinkhole or man-made — there is an even thornier issue, according to Alyssa Peterson, a longtime community activist who was instrumental in initially organizing the weekly clean-ups. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 Many of the garnmets appeared too intricate and precise to be man-made, an ode to the artisans all over the world who piece together exquisite Haute Couture creations by pouring thousands of hours into each work. — Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for man-made
Recent Examples of Synonyms for man-made
  1. synthetic
  2. artificial
  3. faux
  4. simulated
  5. fake
Adjective
  • Some dental floss manufacturers have been quietly moving away from the synthetic material PTFE, which helped their product slip smoothly between teeth.
    — Margaret Hetherman The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The result is a synthetic rhythm section—a voice mimicking a synthesizer that mimics a bass guitar—that precedes a very human chorus from Please, who does not sing so much as plead, several octaves higher.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • The series also leans on some corny, dad-style humor that further underscores its artificial nature.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The authors believe their own work will eventually find similar medical and microfluidic applications, such as for artificial pumps.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of artificial
Adjective
  • Experts called plumassiers, or feather specialists, would often collaborate with fashion houses and incorporate feathers, both faux and real, into designs for couture and ready-to-wear collections.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The ground floor features an 18-seat bar with a rum wall backsplash, carved Moai heads and high-tops that spill out to a lush faux-grass courtyard framed in palm trees and tiki-totem pillars.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • Prosecutors say he was beaten, suspended by his hands and feet and subjected to simulated drowning during two days of interrogation.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • After many attempts of trial and error in a simulated environment, MonoRace figured out the best ways to quickly solve navigation problems and then apply that in the real world.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of simulated
Adjective
  • When Lee gets to the visitation window, there’s a fake Mekko sitting across from him.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The fake image was attention-grabbing, shady, and timely — in other words, perfect for social media virality but a potential liability for the parties involved.
    — Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of fake

Browse Nearby Words

manly
man-made
manna
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Cite this Entry

“Man-made.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/man-made. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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