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
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
In contrast to the organic, natural appearance of the precious set, Kiamo Ko was designed to be man-made in a way that seems to defy physics.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
The result was a horrific spectacle of a human catastrophe that was man-made and totally unnecessary and so unfortunate for the innocent civilians who had to endure a hardship that was beyond comprehension.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for man-made
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
In contrast to the organic, natural appearance of the precious set, Kiamo Ko was designed to be man-made in a way that seems to defy physics.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
The result was a horrific spectacle of a human catastrophe that was man-made and totally unnecessary and so unfortunate for the innocent civilians who had to endure a hardship that was beyond comprehension.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for man-made
Recent Examples of Synonyms for man-made
Adjective
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Do not use laundry detergents to clean synthetic rugs.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
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Kellogg’s won’t voluntarily drop synthetic colors as long as General Mills still uses them, for example.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Such spending flourishes in secrecy, and this year’s artificial rush toward a last-minute deal suggests that more giveaways are coming.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Pasricha also advises her patients to steer clear of foods with artificial sweeteners - often advertised as sugar-free - because they're known to cause diarrhea and bloating.—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Starter Kyle Freeland was nails, and Willi Castro and Mickey Moniak both slipped on the celebratory purple faux fur coat after launching home runs.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
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This pair in particular reminds me of a style Anne Hathaway stepped out in with its black faux-leather exterior and silver bit hardware.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The mission is testing the space capsule's life support system and demonstrating its ability to maneuver during rendezvous and (simulated) docking activities.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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Stewart has already started facing hitters in simulated game settings.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Security company Trend Micro has documented that actors who’ve worked on past operations benefiting the North Korean government have used these addresses, particularly in scams involving fake recruiters.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
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Faces of Death isn’t a remake of the infamous 1978 exploitation landmark, a faux documentary that positioned itself as an anthology of actual carnage (though much of its disturbing footage was fake).—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Man-made.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/man-made. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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