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as in biologic
being such by blood and not by adoption or marriage an adult adoptee who has decided to search for his natural parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining natural salts are not edible until they are washed and processed

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as in uninhabited
existing without human habitation or cultivation photographs of animals in their natural habitat

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as in illegitimate
born to a father and mother who are not married had fathered an unknown number of natural children

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natural

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noun

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For
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natural resources
geological resources
geologic resources
physical resources
native resources
environmental resources
natural disasters
earthly disasters
environmental disasters
ecological disasters
major disasters
unexpected disasters
a natural beauty
a genuine beauty
an authentic beauty
a real beauty
an unaltered beauty
an original beauty
natural products
organic products
holistic products
herbal products
pure products
homeopathic products
a natural law
an universal law
a physical law
a scientific law
a cosmic law
an innate law

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective natural differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of natural are normal, regular, and typical. While all these words mean "being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average," natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

the natural love of a mother for her child

When is normal a more appropriate choice than natural?

Although the words normal and natural have much in common, normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

normal behavior for a two-year-old

When is it sensible to use regular instead of natural?

The words regular and natural can be used in similar contexts, but regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

the club's regular monthly meeting

Where would typical be a reasonable alternative to natural?

In some situations, the words typical and natural are roughly equivalent. However, typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

a typical small town

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 natural
Adjective
These are prime opportunities to meet new people in natural settings. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 21 Jan. 2025 Indeed, PBMs are a natural counterweight to big drug companies that typically charge whatever the market can bear for their products. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
The lazy naturals are folks who don’t want to compromise the integrity of their curls but can’t stand the thought of long washdays and laborious maintenance. Annie Blay, Allure, 23 Dec. 2024 Still, McDonald, winner of six Tony Awards, is not, in a sense, a natural for the part of Rose, a role usually played by a star riding her larger-than-life charisma and blistering belt to a standing ovation. Adam Moss, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for natural 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for natural
Adjective
  • Development of a new antibody drug to treat congenital tooth agenesis Oral Health.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025
  • But the ashes of her daughter, Allison, who died four years ago at age 20 of congenital heart failure, were still there.
    Isabelle Taft, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Exiting the Oval Office brings ex-presidents into one of the world’s most exclusive clubs, with there being just four other living ex-presidents left after former President Jimmy Carter died late last year.
    Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Witnessing this conversation between a living Newcastle legend and the club’s current world-class striker was an uplifting way to start 2024, especially since Isak was fresh from scoring twice against Sunderland in the Wear-Tyne derby.
    The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Ola Malmqvist, who was the United States Tennis Association’s head of women’s tennis during Gauff's breakout, agrees with the players that physicality and athleticism have become more intrinsic to the tour, creating a greater gulf for teen prodigies to cross.
    Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Finding Balance Self-Determination Theory holds that autonomy—the fundamental need to feel a sense of control and personal agency over our actions—is tightly linked to intrinsic motivation, engagement, and overall well-being.
    Spencer Dorn, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Unity is a crude oil tanker that is 245.07 meters (approximately 804 feet) long and 42 meters (approximately 137 feet) wide, according to MarineTraffic.com.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Immediately following Trump’s remarks, crude oil prices turned lower.
    Dan Mangan,Christina Wilkie, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There were no injuries in the incident near Fronton Island, an uninhabited island in the Rio Grande in Starr County, Texas, according to reports.
    Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
  • These uninhabited islands teem with such biodiversity that they are included in the region's UNESCO World Heritage designation.
    Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Birmingham, Alabama, home with a sense of genuine, collected warmth.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Will Trump exclusively select jurists who have flawless judicial records, are genuine full-spectrum conservatives, demonstrate an eagerness to overrule bad precedent, and have a conservative spouse and attend a theologically conservative house of worship?
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Four years into the border crisis, OLS officers are continuing to apprehend human smugglers in Webb County, whose residents overwhelmingly support President-elect Donald Trump and his border policies.
    Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Jan. 2025
  • But the real questions regarding human health and ash are still open.
    Katharine Gammon, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • That period, in 2017, was defined by public demonstrations of resistance, a flurry of new liberal groups and a palpable anger over an election outcome many in the party saw as illegitimate.
    Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Teams with low absenteeism judge calling in sick for illegitimate reasons.
    Lieke ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near natural

Cite this Entry

“Natural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/natural. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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