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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in artificial
produced by humans rather than natural processes
the houses in the new development are built around a man-made lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of man-made
Most lakes in this area are man-made, according to Spencer.
—
Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 Mar. 2026
Where to Take a Warm Dip in Iceland Iceland has more than 120 natural and man-made pools, and upwards of 50 hot springs.
—Lauren Breedlove, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026
At the 2025 Met Gala, Vogue declared that boobs are back—a truth that would resonate throughout the year, as heaving bosoms (both natural and man-made) appeared on red carpets everywhere.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
Whereas quartz countertops are man-made, granite is a naturally occurring stone, quarried from the earth, then cut and polished into the countertop material so many know and love.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for man-made
Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 Mar. 2026
Where to Take a Warm Dip in Iceland Iceland has more than 120 natural and man-made pools, and upwards of 50 hot springs.
—Lauren Breedlove, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026
At the 2025 Met Gala, Vogue declared that boobs are back—a truth that would resonate throughout the year, as heaving bosoms (both natural and man-made) appeared on red carpets everywhere.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
Whereas quartz countertops are man-made, granite is a naturally occurring stone, quarried from the earth, then cut and polished into the countertop material so many know and love.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for man-made
Recent Examples of Synonyms for man-made
Adjective
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What is in tandem here is the exuberantly generative possibility of life itself (SCOBY, water) alongside the very synthetic polymers that are literally wrecking life on an individual and systemic level.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
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The passenger aircraft carried a five percent blend of synthetic kerosene, known as e-SAF.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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As streaming services like Spotify hack the artificial barriers separating one culture's hits from another's, American music fans are growing increasingly eager to dabble in international fare.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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Avoid those with artificial colors, flavors, or other additives.—
Julie Marks,
Verywell Health,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The geometric prints add detail without being overwhelming, and faux buttons top it off.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
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The shoes are also made from faux ostrich leather and feature a micro-squared open toe and a comfortable thong toe strap.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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The game is a simulated, interactive exercise that aims to help people better understand the budget process and explore real-world tradeoffs involved in funding city programs and services.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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Skubal, recovering from an innovative new surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow, is scheduled to throw another simulated game Monday.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Maduro’s electoral fraud was so blatant, and his rights abuses so serious, that the United States, the 27-member European Union and several other countries did not recognize his fake victory.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 Dec. 2025
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The goal isn’t to fake joy, but to show appreciation for the thought behind the gift.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Man-made.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/man-made. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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