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as in biologic
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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natural

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noun

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
In 2024, Aaron Gates proved to be a natural for the position in his second season and eventually moved into the starting role past Denson. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025 The city coordinated with owners of the Baker Prairie Natural Area and the Martha Milburn Bird Sanctuary early in the planning and design process to minimize the impacts to those naturals areas and to improve access to them, the release states. arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2025
Noun
Some nutrients can support your body's natural processes during your period to relax your muscles and reduce swelling. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 2 Oct. 2025 Beecher, who has been a left wing during camp, is a natural center. Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for natural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for natural
Adjective
  • The combination of advances in science, technology—supercomputing and superconducting magnets—and, critically, money from AI hyperscalers and others makes fusion power a realistic option when the world is demanding much more electricity.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
  • But that's not always realistic, cost-effective, or convenient.
    Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Shaw has said he was reborn after the shooting and years later would become a born-again Christian.
    Jordan Blum, Houston Chronicle, 9 June 2019
  • In his mid-40s, Mr. Phillips had quietly become a born-again Christian after attending a Billy Graham rally.
    James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 18 Jan. 2019
Adjective
  • The reinvention of key car parts has been intrinsic since the world championship began in 1950.
    Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Many wisdoms intrinsic to permaculture long predate the term—it cannot be understated how much stems from indigenous knowledge and was passed down from generations before, from these ancestral stewards who listened to, and trusted, the land.
    Catherine Habgood September 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The El Segundo refinery, built in 1911, processes 276,000 barrels of crude oil daily, the company said on its website.
    Hanna Park, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The El Segundo oil refinery is capable of refining 290,000 barrels of crude oil per day, Chevron says on its website, and its primary products are gasoline, jet and diesel.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The uninhabited islets became a focal point of tensions between China and Japan after Tokyo nationalized the chain in 2012.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The others landed in an uninhabited stretch of Nicaragua's Mosquito Coast.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • These best-selling shoes are constructed with 100 percent genuine suede and feature a cork footbed, deep heel cup, and a plush inner lining that feels snug and soft on your feet.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The head coach wants genuine competition, plus options and an ability to change approach depending on the opposition and what is required.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • No human journalist was harmed in this experiment.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The training introduces the concepts used in stream team monitoring such as hydrology, natural and human impact on streams and monitoring methods.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Also endangering the family name and business is a crooked deal made by Byron Hedges (Jack Gleeson), an illegitimate cousin helping Guinness expand into America, that promises 15% of all American profits to the Fenian Brotherhood.
    Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The play’s serious depiction of class politics and illegitimate birth were considered shocking by contemporary audiences.
    Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Natural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/natural. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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