heritable

adjective

ˈher-ə-tə-bəl How to pronounce heritable (audio)
Definition of heritablenext
as in hereditary
genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring heritable characteristics like skin and eye and hair color

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 heritable Longevity, the authors estimated, was about 25 percent heritable, meaning the remaining three quarters was determined by environmental factors and lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026 Most cases of early-onset cancer are not explained by a heritable factor, but Ng said those diagnosed with any cancer at a young age have a higher chance of being diagnosed with a hereditary syndrome, such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis. — Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025 Genotoxicity is when a substance or chemical is destructive to genetic information, causing DNA or chromosomal damage that can lead to mutations, cancer, or heritable defects. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Mar. 2026 Temperament is partially heritable. — Angela J. Narayan, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heritable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heritable
  1. hereditary
  2. genetic
  3. inherited
  4. inheritable
  5. inherent
Adjective
  • Qatar, a geographically small country jutting off the Arabian Peninsula into the Persian Gulf, is ruled by a hereditary monarchy and is one of the wealthiest producers of oil and natural gas on the planet.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • Almost nothing was known about hereditary cancers at the time, and most experts expressed skepticism that these seemingly unrelated cancers might have anything in common.
    — Lawrence Ingrassia, STAT, 26 June 2026
Definition of hereditary
Adjective
  • More effective is preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), a diagnostic screening that checks embryos for chromosomal abnormalities.
    — Edna Bonhomme, Scientific American, 6 July 2026
  • However, elites’ DNA contained genetic similarities known as runs of homozygosity — adjacent genetic markers indicating common ancestry — and their genomes tended to be more homogenous than those of non-elites.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of genetic
Adjective
  • Can creditors garnish money from an inherited IRA?
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 15 June 2026
  • The White Sox kept tacking on against right-hander Blake Treinen, as all three inherited runners scored, plus one more.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Definition of inherited
Adjective
  • Citizenship strategy has moved from a fringe consideration to standard practice among high-net-worth families, with parents and grandparents increasingly viewing passports as a form of inheritable wealth.
    — Alex Ohnona, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • These shares are also inheritable, allowing them to be passed on to heirs.
    — Daniela Sanjinés, The Conversation, 22 July 2025
Definition of inheritable
Adjective
  • Separating identity from one's profession allows for continuous learning and thriving in an evolving workplace, ensuring value comes from inherent capabilities, not just a role.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • The physical configuration achieves passive safety operational profiles by relying on subcritical physics variables and inherent material limitations.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of inherent

Browse Nearby Words

hereupon
heritable
heritage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heritable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heritable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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