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

Dry brushing uses a brush with rigid bristles made of boar hair, plant material or synthetic fibers to exfoliate bare, dry skin. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026 But there’s something bracingly logical about injecting the synthetic jolt of electronic dance music into a hospital environment, where vulnerable bodies are sustained by machines. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2026

Noun

Meanwhile, in June, Space42 added three new synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) satellites to its Foresight constellation, which can image the Earth at day or night and through cloud cover. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 The synthetic gives you direction and a new lens, but humans still make the decisions. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for synthetic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for synthetic

Adjective

This expansive set of 50 items comes with artificial pumpkins, artificial leaves, artificial acorns, artificial pine cones and a mesh bag for storage.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
The 990-foot ship, which was docked in Philadelphia for decades, is set to become the world's largest artificial reef on Wednesday instead of Thursday, Okaloosa County, Florida, officials announced Monday night.

— CBS Philadelphia, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of artificial

Noun

Their simulations suggest that keeping bubbles below this threshold could limit the additional voltage required due to an individual bubble to within three percent.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
The new simulation, called Lumina, re-creates how the first stars and black holes drove reionization, a pivotal but enigmatic phase that transformed the universe.

— Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of simulation

Adjective

Eight of those events involved live-fire activity, allowing personnel to train with actual munitions rather than relying exclusively on simulated engagements.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Astronomers can then remove the simulated glare from the original image.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of simulated

Adjective

Now, Mirren swoops in with her (actually fake) knife and rather un-murderously uses it to cut the (also fake) Sunday roast on the table.

— Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2026
This cursed meeting is a rebuttal to the PR relationship claims, but doing it on-camera kind of undoes the intended purpose and makes the whole thing seem even more fake.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 12 Nov. 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

Lina Attalah, a co-founder and editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, is challenging a one-year prison sentence and a fine imposed in absentia on charges of operating a website without a license and spreading false news.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
Numerous European carriers were hit with false bomb threats last week, including Irish airlines Aer Lingus and Ryanair, Hungarian carrier Wizz Air and Polish Airlines.

— Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 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

Browse Nearby Words

synthesizing

synthetic

synthetics

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“Synthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/synthetic. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of synthetic

adjective

noun

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