1
as in realistic
closely resembling the object imitated
the diorama featuring stuffed birds and plastic plants actually looked very natural
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2
as in born
being such from birth or by nature
from his first visits to the wading pool, we could tell that our little boy loved water and was a natural swimmer
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3
as in biological
being such by blood and not by adoption or marriage
an adult adoptee who has decided to search for his natural parents
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4
as in intrinsic
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing
her natural talent for music first became apparent when, unbidden, she started banging on a toy piano
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5
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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6
as in uninhabited
existing without human habitation or cultivation
photographs of animals in their natural habitat
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7
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
she was completely natural in expressing her feelings for him, unafraid of how they would be received
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8
as in human
relating to or characteristic of human beings
it's only natural to make mistakes—it's part of being human
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9
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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10
as in great
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature
his late grandfather was as kind and natural a man as one could ever hope to meet
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11
as in barbarian
not civilized
a natural man, unacquainted with the blessings and burdens of society
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as in phenomenon
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of natural
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
After years of consistently wearing her hair straightened or styled in smooth waves on the red carpet, Kidman has spent the last month giving her natural tight curls a little time in the spotlight.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Although Michael Bowen was perhaps the first to talk it up, the notion of a large celebration was a complete natural for a neighborhood that was itself an ongoing celebration.
—Dennis McNally, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for natural
Adjective
Outside, a saline pool and teak outdoor furniture sit beneath a eucalyptus tree wrapped in string lights; inside, minimalist decor and natural textures craft a soothing ambience.
—Noun
That’s a natural for the company that owns Nickelodeon, which remains a content engine for the company even as the linear cable business slides.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for natural
Adjective
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The drills were structured to mimic realistic strike scenarios, with multiple waves of drones making coordinated approaches, forcing defenders to manage simultaneous threats and deploy layered countermeasures effectively.—
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The design from Takeshi Kata is intensifying hyper-realistic and comes with a surprise sting in its tail, not to mention some gorgeous vistas from the great Chicago lighting designer Heather Gilbert, who send shafts of light into the play’s motel room of the paranoid.—
Adjective
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Shaw has said he was reborn after the shooting and years later would become a born-again Christian.—
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In his mid-40s, Mr. Phillips had quietly become a born-again Christian after attending a Billy Graham rally.—
Adjective
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No biological evidence ever tied Gillispie to the crimes.—
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But a more recent line of research has pushed back against these notions, using statistical analysis to suggest that the apparent variations in response are just the result of measurement error and day-to-day biological variability.—
Adjective
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The company’s proprietary Safe+ solid-state platform, combined with its in-situ sub-micron industrial film deposition (ISFD) technology, is designed to boost energy density while improving intrinsic safety by replacing traditional liquid electrolytes.—
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Someone with the virginal purity of a political outsider and the intrinsic capability of an insider who’s spent decades cutting deals and keeping the government wheels spinning.—
Adjective
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East Caicos, one of the largest uninhabited islands in the Caribbean, felt untouched.—
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What To Know The Japanese government purchased Mageshima, an uninhabited islet in Kagoshima prefecture, for $146 million in 2019.—
Adjective
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Nothing wrong with a little fantasy, but this year’s astrology asks us to stop romanticizing potential and start paying attention to what feels genuine, reciprocal and enduring.—
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The tears in Yang’s eyes appeared genuine.—
Adjective
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Steering wheels, pedals, and dashboards designed for constant human control can limit comfort and flexibility when the vehicle is driving itself.—
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The right response is not to walk away from generative AI, but to combine it with deterministic tools, human oversight, and serious training.—
Adjective
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Trump took decisive action Saturday in launching precision military strikes in Venezuela that enabled special forces to seize and detain Maduro, an illegitimate leader despised by his own people.—
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Rubio insisted in interviews that Washington will use control of Venezuela’s oil industry to force policy changes, and called the government currently in place illegitimate.—
Cite this Entry
“Natural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/natural. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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