Synonym Chooser

How is the word inborn different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of inborn are congenital, hereditary, inbred, and innate. While all these words mean "not acquired after birth," inborn suggests a quality or tendency either actually present at birth or so marked and deep-seated as to seem so.

her inborn love of nature

How do congenital and hereditary relate to one another, in the sense of inborn?

Both congenital and hereditary refer to what is acquired before or at birth, the former to things acquired during fetal development and the latter to things transmitted from one's ancestors.

a congenital heart murmur
eye color is hereditary

When can inbred be used instead of inborn?

The words inbred and inborn are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inbred suggests something either acquired from parents by heredity or so deeply rooted and ingrained as to seem acquired in that way.

inbred political loyalties

In what contexts can innate take the place of inborn?

The synonyms innate and inborn are sometimes interchangeable, but innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

Examples 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 inborn Not all animals’ responses to anthropogenic change are inborn, however. Lee Alan Dugatkin, Scientific American, 14 May 2024 Such sweeping ambition is intrinsic, an expression of America’s inborn missionary zeal. Jon Sebastian Shifrin, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2024 According to the research, adults that engaged in an extensive training regime exhibited behavioral and physiological markers for grapheme-color synesthesia, challenging the notion that synesthesia is exclusively an inborn trait. Mark Travers, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 Still an inexperienced group player, André does show an inborn knack for instrumental conversation and picks his spots well, running short phrases while toying with syllabic inflections and extending runs without obstructing other players. Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 7 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for inborn 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inborn
Adjective
  • Vacancy rates for specialized AI skills like natural language processing (NLP) are as high as 15%, while demand for inherent skills such as continuous learning, resilience, empathy and ethical judgment have surged by 81%.
    Sander van ‘t Noordende, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • There’s an inherent appeal to library tourism—seeing the places where nations hold their collective knowledge and history.
    Laura Studarus, WIRED, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • How genetic genealogy cracked the case Genetic genealogy, a combination of DNA analysis and family tree research, finally led detectives to Guillot Jr. A relatively new field of study, genetic genealogy gained prominence as hobbyists began looking into their family history.
    Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
  • These Dolly copies lived healthily and reached the old age of eight without showing any genetic issues.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The online reaction felt uncomfortable to some bystanders given that we’re all supposed to care about human dignity — the idea that every single person has intrinsic and inalienable value.
    Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Gold Coins Gold coins combine collectability with the intrinsic value of gold.
    Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Eugenic Protection Law, in place from 1948 to 1996, allowed authorities to forcibly sterilize people with disabilities, including those with mental disorders, hereditary diseases or physical deformities and leprosy.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN, 17 July 2024
  • There is no indication that lice are hereditary or that people with certain genetic makeups are more likely to get lice than others.
    Wendy Wisner, Health, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • For many owners, their business is not just a source of income but an integral part of their identity.
    Steven Furtado, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
  • In addition, as Biden concludes his term, tribal communities and conservation groups are urging for more national monument designations, ensuring that the stories of resilience and struggle remain an integral part of the nation's historical narrative.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Good data is essential—ML models can only perform as well as the training data they are fed.
    William Mullane, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Remember, analytics is essential in every role across all industries.
    Jay Garcia, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • And, despite the fierce debate over pensions, the text was fuzzy on whether old-age savings would be inheritable.
    Andres Velasco, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2022
  • There is a form of inheritable rickets that can be passed down through families. Vitamin D deficiency is a common cause of rickets.
    Patty Weasler, RN, BSN, Verywell Health, 13 Aug. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near inborn

Cite this Entry

“Inborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inborn. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on inborn

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