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

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 inborn Her looks and style seem inborn. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 But that look of inborn chic didn’t just happen. Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 Naturally, jumping styles are not necessarily inborn, immutable traits. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 Like so many inborn traits, the spiritual impulse for prayer can grow stronger, and just as easily grow weaker. Lynne Silva-Breen, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inborn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inborn
Adjective
  • Processing cheap rare earth is a nasty business using dangerous acid precursors that come with inherent risks, which bump up the prices of processing in the environmentally conscious West.
    Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Justin brings an inherent understanding of my company that is essential for its growth.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • While scientists have suspected these connections, before now the only evidence for them was archaeological, rather than genetic.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 July 2025
  • It is set to be acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology firm focused on using genetic data to develop new drugs.
    Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Our intrinsic value of $60.00 is based on a 2026e EV/EBITDA multiple of 10.0x for the Building Materials segment (~6.8% premium to peer multiple of 9.4x) and 13.0x for the Building Envelope segment (~2.2% premium to peer multiple of 12.7x).
    Joe Cornell, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • This improvement is not the result of external adjustments but rather an intrinsic development within the model.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • The extravagant, dissolute life Prince Albert II of Monaco continues to bolster arguments of those who think that hereditary monarchies should not be allowed to exist in the 21st century.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
  • In a world of hereditary monarchies, there was a very real possibility at the time of America’s founding that whoever gained power would refuse to hand it over when the time came.
    Frederic J. Fransen, Twin Cities, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • The report cites that as of Feb. 13, the district had 47.5 special education teacher vacancies among other vacancies including school psychologists, school social workers and speech language pathologists, all of whom are integral to special education services for students.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
  • The reports come as the success of Tesla's robotaxi division may be increasingly integral to the future of the company.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • The truth is, digestion is an essential part of the wellness and health conversation.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 15 July 2025
  • Justin brings an inherent understanding of my company that is essential for its growth.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Quoting the late American historian Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, Horn said Jewish culture makes a distinction between history and memory, and Jews are more interested in memory: investing a historical event with eternal, inheritable meaning.
    Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Our vision is that the future of design will have a long lasting inheritable quality.
    Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inborn. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on inborn

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