1
as in self
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others it was the grotesque nature of his stories that made them a challenge to get published in mainstream magazines her nature was such that lying was never an option for her the stoic nature of that family enables them to endure one calamity after another

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in wilderness
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation needed to get out of the office and back to nature in order to clear his head

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in kind
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common group together anything round: buttons, lids, coins, and other things of that nature

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
6
as in universe
the whole body of things observed or assumed the belief that all of nature is controlled by an unseen Supreme Being

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word nature distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of nature are character, description, kind, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

Where would character be a reasonable alternative to nature?

Although the words character and nature have much in common, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of nature?

The synonyms description and nature are sometimes interchangeable, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When can kind be used instead of nature?

In some situations, the words kind and nature are roughly equivalent. However, kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When would sort be a good substitute for nature?

While the synonyms sort and nature are close in meaning, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can type take the place of nature?

The words type and nature are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

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 nature That’s the nature, for instance, of Daniel Radcliffe’s legendary foulmouthed appearance on Extras, or David Duchovny going full Basic Instinct on The Larry Sanders Show. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 Brownie's coat, now clean and shiny thanks to a bath from an AHS Emergency Animal Medical Technician™, matches her sweet nature. Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025 Alongside a conventional medical curriculum, AWSOM’s course features exposure to art and nature, an emphasis on self-care, and direct clinical experience from the very start of students’ studies. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025 But Huang’s hands-on nature, of all-in on business—even on weekends—became a source of inspiration for Mohajer. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nature
Noun
  • Features no longer available Automatic self parking.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • But what many users didn’t understand, or were never clearly told, is that the Web3 Wallet was not a self-custody wallet.
    Chris Groshong, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Norway is farther north and its wilderness, Trier believes, affects the culture.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
  • And just outside of New York City, off Long Island’s south shore, Fire Island National Seashore provides an easy escape to a rare coastal wilderness for undisturbed hikes through dunes and salt marshes.
    Jeffrey C. Hallo, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Given the number of works Apple may have infringed upon, the plaintiffs, Hendrix and Roberson, have requested the court to turn their complaint into a class action and block the company from further infringement of this kind.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The lawsuit, which was first reported by Courthouse News, is one of the first of its kind and could set meaningful precedent for AI abuses in the future.
    Kyle Ingram, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The appellate court must decide if it will be decided in a summary disposition, whether briefs will be submitted either with or without oral arguments, or whether the case should be certified to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for consideration, which is considered rare.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • What’s evident is that Elizabeth shares a disposition with her satirical father.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • These metres break you down to your essence.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The bad news is that time is of the essence.
    Daniel Klein, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The 90/10 skew is designed to reflect what Morningstar considers the modern asset universe, which is one where opportunities are expanding in the private markets and companies such as OpenAI and Stripe are able to stay private for longer.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • More recently, the Star Wars cinematic universe has expanded into serial productions such as the television show Andor, which builds on the central conflicts of the original movie.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • His work is recognized for rejecting straight lines in favor of rounded, continuous forms and for being approachable yet full of personality.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Indeed, the personalities of Chesley’s siblings — her surviving twin sister Chatham, and twin boys Chance and Cheston, who all turned three on July 28 — have flourished.
    Jeff Truesdell, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In the wild, rapid growth, a docile temperament and fast egg-laying are not traits that would serve chickens well in the slightest.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The sentence’s restrained temperament with its eerie bureaucratic authority, quiet yet menacing.
    Michael Jerome Plunkett September 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nature. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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