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 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 The program was created by Congress to help quickly protect nationals of countries that, as a result of natural or man-made disasters, were dangerous for people to return to, with routine reevaluations to decide if the protections would be extended or ended. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026 It’s been his routine for decades, through all manner of upheaval and events — social, political, natural and man-made. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 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
  • The modular design addresses a limitation in conventional synthetic biology.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
  • If your product generates synthetic text, images, audio or video that reaches the EU, that content has to be marked in a machine-readable format, with a short grace window to December 2, 2026 for systems already on the market.
    — Kuan Archer, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • The expert becomes the manager of an artificial team, reviewing, redirecting, correcting, and sharpening outputs at speed.
    — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
  • What happens if artificial companionship becomes society’s default response to loneliness, dementia, disability, and a shortage of human care?
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of artificial
Adjective
  • The titular protagonist of Isador Machete Cortez enjoys a bizarre history, originating in the first Spy Kids movie before taking center stage in a faux trailer created for Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s exploitation throwback, Grindhouse.
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The chrome finish and low-profile faux leather seat lend a contemporary look to any kitchen.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • That is important, as the show includes simulated rain showers with real water pouring down on the stage from above.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The demonstration, however, shows that a modern aero gas turbine can operate on 100 percent hydrogen through the changing conditions of a full simulated flight cycle, providing another step toward lower-carbon aviation.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of simulated
Adjective
  • The company behind a poll that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass touted as showing her with a double-digit lead in the mayoral race said the survey was entirely fake and part of a social experiment.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2026
  • There’s much more for fans of special effects to discover, from the practical snow used whenever feasible to the geysers of fake blood used to comedic effect.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 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 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on man-made

Nglish: Translation of man-made for Spanish Speakers

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