as in synthetic
produced by humans rather than natural processes
pure vanilla extract that was made without any nonnatural ingredients
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Recent Examples of nonnatural
Much of synthetic biology involves genetic engineering to introduce networks of genes that give cells new functions, such as manufacturing enzymes to make a nonnatural molecule.
—
Philip Ball, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2023
The latter discipline has racked up impressive achievements in retooling cells for nonnatural tasks—for example, programming bacteria to glow in the presence of pollutants and other chemicals.
—Philip Ball, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2023
Although some wildfires in California are ignited by lightning, a vast majority have nonnatural causes — sparks from electrical equipment, the heat of a lawn mower engine or, in the case of one of the state’s largest fires, a man hammering a stake into the ground.
—New York Times, 8 Oct. 2021
The increase in mortality has been especially stark among working-age males, with increases in death rates from alcohol, violence, and other nonnatural causes.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2023
Purified, nonnatural diets such as AIN-93, which contain refined, easy-to-digest ingredients, can lead to various abnormalities in lab mice that could affect experimental results, including a buildup of fat, a loss of normal intestinal bacteria, and a reduction in the size of the intestines.
—Mennatella Ibrahim, Science | AAAS, 17 June 2021
In several landscapes, including Lundbye’s, a distinctive nonnatural element recurs: a prehistoric stone structure of upright boulders with a capstone known as a dolmen.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2023
In the Bahamas, 27 U.S. citizens have died from nonnatural causes, including drownings, vehicle accidents and homicide, from January 2018 to June 2021, according to the most recent available State Department data.
—Omar Abdel-Baqui, WSJ, 9 May 2022
Only one nonnatural death of an inmate has ever been reported at the prison.
—Joseph Simonson, Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2021
Philip Ball, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2023
The latter discipline has racked up impressive achievements in retooling cells for nonnatural tasks—for example, programming bacteria to glow in the presence of pollutants and other chemicals.
—Philip Ball, Scientific American, 18 Apr. 2023
Although some wildfires in California are ignited by lightning, a vast majority have nonnatural causes — sparks from electrical equipment, the heat of a lawn mower engine or, in the case of one of the state’s largest fires, a man hammering a stake into the ground.
—New York Times, 8 Oct. 2021
The increase in mortality has been especially stark among working-age males, with increases in death rates from alcohol, violence, and other nonnatural causes.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2023
Purified, nonnatural diets such as AIN-93, which contain refined, easy-to-digest ingredients, can lead to various abnormalities in lab mice that could affect experimental results, including a buildup of fat, a loss of normal intestinal bacteria, and a reduction in the size of the intestines.
—Mennatella Ibrahim, Science | AAAS, 17 June 2021
In several landscapes, including Lundbye’s, a distinctive nonnatural element recurs: a prehistoric stone structure of upright boulders with a capstone known as a dolmen.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2023
In the Bahamas, 27 U.S. citizens have died from nonnatural causes, including drownings, vehicle accidents and homicide, from January 2018 to June 2021, according to the most recent available State Department data.
—Omar Abdel-Baqui, WSJ, 9 May 2022
Only one nonnatural death of an inmate has ever been reported at the prison.
—Joseph Simonson, Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonnatural
Adjective
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The push for tools to address overdoses has taken on more urgency as deaths from synthetic opioids have skyrocketed in Texas and across the U.S. Fentanyl was identified as the likely cause of a surge of 79 overdoses in Austin last spring, which killed nine people.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
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The deadly synthetic opioid has been covered in books and research papers and articles, including many published by inewsource, the nonprofit San Diego newsroom where Self is the managing editor.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Subscribe now Like other experts whom CNBC spoke to, Raghunathan established market manipulation as deliberately misleading or influencing prices and trading volumes to create artificial trends or unfair advantages, such as pump-and-dump schemes and wash trading.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
18 July 2025
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The formula delivers the classic Coca-Cola taste that Americans are familiar with domestically. Kennedy Jr. has pushed food manufacturers to phase out artificial food dyes from American products as well as reduce sugar levels.—
Mandy Taheri
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonnatural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonnatural. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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