NATURAL Synonyms: 440 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

natural 1 of 2

adjective

ˈna-ch(ə-)rəl

Definition of natural

as in realistic

closely resembling the object imitated the diorama featuring stuffed birds and plastic plants actually looked very natural

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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

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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

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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

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as in uninhabited

existing without human habitation or cultivation photographs of animals in their natural habitat

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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

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as in human

relating to or characteristic of human beings it's only natural to make mistakes—it's part of being human

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as in illegitimate

born to a father and mother who are not married had fathered an unknown number of natural children

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legitimate

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

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as in barbarian

not civilized a natural man, unacquainted with the blessings and burdens of society

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natural

2 of 2

noun

as in phenomenon

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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

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 natural

Adjective

Shrubs are trimmed to accentuate their natural shape, while hedges are often shaped a little more strictly to maintain a uniform look. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2026 This is, in part, a byproduct of private equity’s natural boom-and-bust cycle. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 6 Nov. 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 See All Example Sentences for natural

Recent Examples of Synonyms for natural

Adjective

Hoyer will be under the gun again to make the Cubs a realistic championship contender, but apparently only from fans since Chairman Tom Ricketts appears satisfied with the status quo.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Someone pursuing a major objective must define what completion requires, identify deliverables, determine dependencies, estimate resources, build a realistic schedule and monitor progress.

— Desiree’ Stapleton, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of realistic

Adjective

Aimee Morrisby was born with long-segment Hirschsprung’s disease, a congenital condition affecting the nerves responsible for moving waste through the intestines, according to Nine Australia and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2026
Some have an aggressive streak, a kind of congenital belligerence.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of congenital

Adjective

These gases react with one another, so their simultaneous presence can suggest that biological processes are replenishing them.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
None of those relationships establishes why the authors favored a biological definition of Alzheimer’s; there were scientific arguments for the position.

— Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of biological

Adjective

But Gilda is off to a fine start, already intrinsic to its neighborhood.

— John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
These private, elevated spaces so intrinsic to the character of the property will remain closed to the public while management seeks a practical solution.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of intrinsic

Adjective

Connecticut does not have any other native large canid species in the state.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026
According to an indictment, the pitchers accepted several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 on in-game prop bets on the speed and outcome of certain pitches.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of native

Adjective

The first of these territories to be claimed were uninhabited islands, such as Howland Island in the southwestern Pacific and Navassa Island in the Caribbean, under the auspices of the Guano Islands Act of 1856.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Researchers from the Archaeological Legacy Institute and Purdue University embarked this month on the Taraia Object expedition in Nikumaroro, an uninhabited coral atoll in the Phoenix Islands belonging to the Republic of Kiribati.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of uninhabited

Adjective

The 2012 edition showed us there was genuine appetite for Dracula in audio, and that the epistolary structure of letters and diary entries actually works beautifully when performed by multiple voices.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026
The organizations that succeed over the next decade will likely have invested in a culture that breeds adaptability through genuine empathy, honest communication and support.

— Suzanne Konstance, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of genuine

Adjective

There is compelling evidence that, regardless of the company, most driver-assist systems are less safe than normal human driving.

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2026
When a class of schoolchildren collides with a group of pups at the park, the teacher and the dog walker pick up the wrong leashes, sending human child George away with the dogs and furry brown Romper off to school for the afternoon.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of human

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“Natural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/natural. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of natural

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noun

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