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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
  • Researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have discovered that passing waves through a special class of synthetic media forces them to abandon chaotic scattering entirely.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
  • This helps keep your garden soil and plants free of synthetic chemicals and plastics.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • But other sections, like artificial language, are no longer in use.
    — Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Later in the day, on the other hand, the artificial grass was hardly visible under the beach towels, and there were parents with squabbling children doing cannonballs into the pool.
    — Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of artificial
Adjective
  • In place of a faux leather base, the bags are all now made of a sturdy canvas material with a coated canvas base.
    — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The faux Sheeran then sings a song about how both sides can be equally right.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • There’s also a virtual race and a simulated wingsuit activity.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026
  • When kept under continuous simulated sunlight at room temperature for 2,000 hours, encapsulated cells retained 84% of their starting efficiency.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of simulated
Adjective
  • The Scarlet Knights ran a fake punt to convert a fourth and 21 for a 44-yard gain that sparked a touchdown drive to close the gap to three points.
    — Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The products, which sport fake USDA inspection labels, were distributed to grocery stores and restaurants across the United States.
    — Julia Hawkins, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 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 29 Sep. 2026.

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