Synonyms of natural

natural 1 of 2

adjective

ˈna-ch(ə-)rəl 

1

as in realistic

closely resembling the object imitated

the diorama featuring stuffed birds and plastic plants actually looked very natural

Synonyms & Similar Words

• realistic
• naturalistic
• lifelike
• three-dimensional
• living
• vivid
• similar
• compelling
• near
• like
• graphic
• comparable
• true
• photo-realistic
• accurate
• matching
• convincing
• analogous
• alike
• approximate
• expressive
• faithful
• close
• akin
• resembling
• verisimilar
• gritty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unnatural
• unrealistic
• unlike
• dissimilar
• nonnatural
• different
• off
• incomparable
• unmatched
• nonrealistic
• disparate
• contrasting
• unalike
• fake
• phony
• mock
• sham
• contrasted

2

as in born

being such from birth or by nature

from his first visits to the wading pool, we could tell that our little boy loved water and was a natural swimmer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• born
• congenital
• innate
• constitutional
• native
• hereditary
• regular
• proper
• chronic
• intrinsic
• inherent
• habitual
• elemental
• elementary
• ingrained
• essential
• intimate
• confirmed
• intuitive
• consummate
• unregenerate
• incorrigible
• unreconstructed
• inborn
• inveterate
• instinctual
• connate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonnatural
• developed
• foreign
• cultivated
• unnatural
• trained
• alien

3

as in biological

being such by blood and not by adoption or marriage

an adult adoptee who has decided to search for his natural parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

• biological
• birth
• legitimate
• consanguineous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adopted
• adoptive
• nonbiological
• illegitimate

4

as in intrinsic

being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing

her natural talent for music first became apparent when, unbidden, she started banging on a toy piano

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intrinsic
• inherent
• integral
• essential
• constitutional
• innate
• indigenous
• hereditary
• constitutive
• inborn
• inner
• native
• immanent
• inherited
• fundamental
• ingrained
• inbred
• elemental
• basic
• congenital
• distinctive
• hardwired
• internal
• built-in
• characteristic
• ingrain
• in one's blood
• interior
• peculiar
• deep-rooted
• normal
• typical
• habitual
• inmost
• regular
• inveterate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• foreign
• extrinsic
• extraneous
• adventitious
• alien
• accidental
• incidental
• surface
• coincidental
• external
• superficial
• exterior
• acquired
• adscititious

5

as in crude

being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining

natural salts are not edible until they are washed and processed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crude
• native
• unprocessed
• raw
• untreated
• unrefined
• in the rough
• in the raw
• undressed
• undeveloped
• rude
• unfinished
• unpolished
• uncooked
• unfiltered
• impure
• rough-hewn
• semifinished

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• treated
• refined
• pure
• dressed
• processed
• purified
• filtered

6

as in uninhabited

existing without human habitation or cultivation

photographs of animals in their natural habitat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• uninhabited
• undeveloped
• native
• wild
• untamed
• uncultivated
• virgin
• spontaneous
• overgrown
• desolate
• unsettled
• waste
• unpeopled
• untended
• forlorn
• howling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cultivated
• inhabited
• developed
• tamed
• seminatural

7

as in genuine

free from any intent to deceive or impress others

she was completely natural in expressing her feelings for him, unafraid of how they would be received

Synonyms & Similar Words

• genuine
• unaffected
• simple
• honest
• true
• real
• innocent
• spontaneous
• naive
• sincere
• guileless
• artless
• ingenuous
• straightforward
• unpretentious
• inexperienced
• unpretending
• on the level
• candid
• childlike
• unsophisticated
• unworldly
• direct
• unforced
• straight
• open
• malleable
• unstudied
• plain
• impressionable
• frank
• trustful
• wide-eyed
• trusting
• free
• unguarded
• gee-whiz
• openhearted
• simpleminded
• persuasible
• plainspoken
• exploitable
• persuadable
• susceptible
• gullible
• dewy-eyed
• free-spoken
• single-minded
• unwary

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• artificial
• critical
• false
• assuming
• affected
• artful
• fake
• dishonest
• phony
• sophisticated
• suspicious
• skeptical
• pretentious
• cynical
• insincere
• worldly
• wary
• cosmopolitan
• civilized
• cultured
• polished
• mistrustful
• refined
• subtle
• cultivated
• deceptive
• guileful
• smooth
• manipulative
• hypocritical
• deceitful
• crooked
• dissembling
• cunning
• sharp
• devious
• dissimulating
• slippery
• shrewd
• slick
• crafty
• tricky
• designing
• wily
• sly
• worldly-wise
• arch
• foxy
• flattering
• underhanded
• shifty
• calculating
• scheming
• unctuous
• strained
• forced
• feigned
• double-dealing
• canny
• two-faced
• knavish
• sycophantic
• mealymouthed

8

as in human

relating to or characteristic of human beings

it's only natural to make mistakes—it's part of being human

Synonyms & Similar Words

• human
• mortal
• humanoid
• anthropoid
• humanlike
• earthborn
• hominid
• creatural

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• divine
• nonhuman
• supernatural
• angelic
• superhuman
• godlike
• immortal
• supernormal
• preternatural
• animal
• omnipotent
• omniscient
• brute
• bestial
• inhuman
• robotic
• beastly
• subhuman
• infrahuman

9

as in illegitimate

born to a father and mother who are not married

had fathered an unknown number of natural children

Synonyms & Similar Words

• illegitimate
• supposititious
• misbegotten
• spurious
• unfathered
• motherless
• baseborn
• fatherless
• adopted
• orphaned
• nameless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• legitimate

10

as in great

having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature

his late grandfather was as kind and natural a man as one could ever hope to meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• great
• noble
• high
• sublime
• honorable
• gallant
• magnanimous
• chivalrous
• big
• lofty
• elevated
• heroic
• worthy
• high-minded
• lordly
• regal
• exalted
• greathearted
• venerable
• magnificent
• valiant
• inspiring
• majestic
• numinous
• uplifting
• moving
• princely
• ennobled
• knightly
• glorified
• august

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• low
• base
• ignoble
• degenerate
• degraded
• vile
• sordid
• ugly
• debased
• offensive
• wretched
• repulsive
• vicious
• abominable
• little
• squalid
• contemptible
• detestable
• despicable
• hateful
• dirty
• lousy
• narrow
• sorry
• dastardly
• mean
• coarse
• crude
• degrading
• humiliating
• ignominious
• vulgar
• discreditable
• small-minded

11

as in barbarian

not civilized

a natural man, unacquainted with the blessings and burdens of society

Synonyms & Similar Words

• barbarian
• wild
• rude
• savage
• primitive
• barbaric
• barbarous
• uncivilized
• uncultivated
• Neanderthal
• heathenish
• uncivil
• coarse
• crude
• rough
• heathen
• uncouth
• uncultured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• civilized
• sophisticated
• humane
• cultured
• enlightened
• polished
• polite
• refined
• genteel
• urbane
• well-bred
• semicivilized

natural

2 of 2

noun

as in phenomenon

Related Words

• phenomenon
• marvel
• wonder
• sensation
• treasure
• victory
• gem
• jewel
• triumph
• coup
• blue chip
• success
• blue chipper
• pip
• supernova
• dandy
• blockbuster
• crackerjack
• corker
• jim-dandy
• hit
• prizewinner
• winner
• megahit
• smash

Dissimilar Words

• catastrophe
• failure
• turkey
• bomb
• washout
• bust
• flop
• fiasco
• clinker
• debacle
• lemon
• disappointment
• loser
• dud
• misfire
• bummer
• fizzle

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective natural differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of natural are normal, regular, and typical. While all these words mean "being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average," natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

the natural love of a mother for her child

When is normal a more appropriate choice than natural?

Although the words normal and natural have much in common, normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

normal behavior for a two-year-old

When is it sensible to use regular instead of natural?

The words regular and natural can be used in similar contexts, but regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

the club's regular monthly meeting

Where would typical be a reasonable alternative to natural?

In some situations, the words typical and natural are roughly equivalent. However, typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

a typical small town

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of natural

Adjective

The best shampoos cleanse your scalp and hair from roots to ends, freeing it from buildup and gunk without stripping the scalp of natural and vital oils. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 Aug. 2026

Invasive plants are nonnative and have demonstrated the ability to spread aggressively, establish outside of cultivation into natural areas, and outcompete native plants. — Dr. Lauren Kurtz, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026

Noun

This SheaMoisture bestseller is an oldie but goodie, and has historically been a popular pick for beginner naturals (speaking from experience). — Eden Stuart, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2026

In the bawdy comedic scene, Tommy wakes up au natural in his hotel bed after an amorous evening with his wife, Angela Norris (Ali Larter), to find a shocked housekeeper in the hotel room. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026