Synonyms of man-made

man-made

adjective

ˈman-ˈmād 

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

• synthetic
• artificial
• faux
• simulated
• fake
• imitation
• dummy
• false
• imitative
• manufactured
• mock
• ersatz
• mimic
• substitute
• counterfeit
• bogus
• factitious
• designer
• sham
• pretend
• process
• deceptive
• engineered
• cultured
• fabricated
• manipulated
• forged
• unauthentic
• pseudo
• adulterated
• fraudulent
• concocted
• misleading
• phony
• doctored
• spurious
• affected
• fudged
• tampered (with)
• feigned
• juggled
• pinchbeck
• brummagem

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• natural
• real
• genuine
• true
• legitimate
• bona fide
• authentic
• valuable
• quality
• pure
• premium
• unadulterated

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

• synthetic
• artificial
• nonnatural
• manufactured
• industrial
• processed
• mechanical
• refined
• imitation
• faux
• cultivated
• fabricated
• ersatz

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• natural
• raw
• crude

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of man-made

Metallic or obviously man-made noises, of course, won’t be tolerated. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026

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