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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
-
Many of today’s bags are made from synthetic fibers.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Oct. 2025
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Beijing already leads in some research fields, such as synthetic biology and biomanufacturing.—
Sen. Todd Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Investors appeared unnerved by big increases in spending that Meta Platforms and Microsoft are planning as the investment spree related to artificial-intelligence technology keeps gushing.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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Space station crews are also partnering with LambdaVision to manufacture artificial retinas in orbit that can be used to treat patients losing their vision to such conditions as retinitis pigmentosa.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonnatural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonnatural. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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