SYNTHETIC Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

synthetic 1 of 2

adjective

sin-ˈthe-tik

Definition of synthetic

as in artificial

produced by humans rather than natural processes that organic farm doesn't use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in faux

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials synthetic fur collars boots of waterproof synthetic leather

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

synthetic

2 of 2

noun

as in simulation

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

original

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 synthetic

Adjective

Semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, is a synthetic peptide designed to mimic GLP-1, which helps regulate satiety. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026 Sifting through pages of medical records, prosecutor Abbe Rifkin highlighted how Sierra once had a seizure in his jail cell after using K2, a form of synthetic marijuana. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

The synthetic gives you direction and a new lens, but humans still make the decisions. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 In The Sacramento Bee’s climate model simulations built with dozens of synthetic super El Niños, the strongest events line up with the wettest California winters statewide. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for synthetic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for synthetic

Adjective

The series also leans on some corny, dad-style humor that further underscores its artificial nature.

— Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
The authors believe their own work will eventually find similar medical and microfluidic applications, such as for artificial pumps.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of artificial

Adjective

Experts called plumassiers, or feather specialists, would often collaborate with fashion houses and incorporate feathers, both faux and real, into designs for couture and ready-to-wear collections.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
The ground floor features an 18-seat bar with a rum wall backsplash, carved Moai heads and high-tops that spill out to a lush faux-grass courtyard framed in palm trees and tiki-totem pillars.

— Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of faux

Noun

The playoff projections are based on a Monte Carlo simulation, a computation of random sampling used to predict outcomes, of the 2026 season.

— Loren Maxwell, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026
The scientists tested their conclusions by running simulations of planetary system evolution, all of which began with different conditions.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of simulation

Adjective

In addition to rewards for moving at the right speed and in the right direction and penalties for things like wobbling or jerky movement, the team introduced a novel way to keep the hand in a crawling stance during the simulated training.

— Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2026
Prosecutors also accuse Flores of ordering torture and helping oversee a system of repression in which prisoners were subjected to electric shocks, simulated drowning, beatings and threats against their families.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of simulated

Adjective

When Lee gets to the visitation window, there’s a fake Mekko sitting across from him.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The fake image was attention-grabbing, shady, and timely — in other words, perfect for social media virality but a potential liability for the parties involved.

— Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

Technicians spent weeks running inert dummy rods through the cutters to verify tolerances before introducing live radioactive fuel.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026
Perception set up a dummy news site and created fake social-media accounts highlighting the tournament’s amenities, which included kosher food in stadiums.

— Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of dummy

Adjective

Screening mammograms miss about one in eight breast cancers overall, and people with dense breasts are more likely to get false-negative results, the American Cancer Society reports.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Overall, screening mammograms miss about one in eight breast cancers, and people with dense breasts are more likely to get false-negative results.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of false

Adjective

Using techniques like input-dependent computation and gating, the liquid AI design gives us substantially greater power to access the human-like cognition, albeit imitative, of the machines.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Since then, whenever new tools to crank out communications have become available, somebody has flooded the zone with the fastest, most imitative material that could garner attention.

— Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025

Definition of imitative

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synthesizing

synthetic

synthetics

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“Synthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/synthetic. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of synthetic

adjective

noun

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