NATURAL Synonyms: 440 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

natural 1 of 2

adjective

ˈna-ch(ə-)rəl

Definition of natural

as in realistic

closely resembling the object imitated the diorama featuring stuffed birds and plastic plants actually looked very natural

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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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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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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 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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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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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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legitimate

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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as in barbarian

not civilized a natural man, unacquainted with the blessings and burdens of society

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natural

2 of 2

noun

as in phenomenon

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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

Very clean and modern yet with understated nods to place—subtle Hawaiian patterns, a discreet pineapple print on pillows, natural textures. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026 On 1 of 1, themes of gratitude, faith, hard work, perseverance, transformation and the unifying power of hip-hop dominate the track list, continuing Lyte’s natural talent for imparting wisdom on her audience. — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Noun

This SheaMoisture bestseller is an oldie but goodie, and has historically been a popular pick for beginner naturals (speaking from experience). — Eden Stuart, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2026 In the bawdy comedic scene, Tommy wakes up au natural in his hotel bed after an amorous evening with his wife, Angela Norris (Ali Larter), to find a shocked housekeeper in the hotel room. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for natural

Recent Examples of Synonyms for natural

Adjective

America’s Micron is building fabs in the United States, but significantly replacing Korea’s output is not realistic.

— Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Building realistic best-case, base-case and downside scenarios helps companies adjust before a shift becomes a crisis.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of realistic

Adjective

The virus may also cause congenital abnormalities in newborn calves.

— Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
At least one case of congenital measles led to a death; the first death reported in the current outbreak was in a newborn baby boy, who died immediately after birth while his mother was severely ill with measles.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of congenital

Adjective

As co-founder Jennifer Mantz noted, total surprise gifts carry intrinsic risks, often leaving recipients feeling guilty or uncomfortable when an item misses the mark completely.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Because the short strikes (11/17) are narrower than the long strikes (10/18), a massive directional move will cause the short options' intrinsic value to expand faster than the long options can offset it in the short term.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of intrinsic

Adjective

Murals honoring the town’s famous native daughter appeared in shop windows along the way to breakfast.

— Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Dil Chahta Hai, Omkara and Sacred Games star Saif Ali Khan, and National Award winner Vidya Balan, are both icons of the screen in their native India.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of native

Adjective

The first of these territories to be claimed were uninhabited islands, such as Howland Island in the southwestern Pacific and Navassa Island in the Caribbean, under the auspices of the Guano Islands Act of 1856.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Researchers from the Archaeological Legacy Institute and Purdue University embarked this month on the Taraia Object expedition in Nikumaroro, an uninhabited coral atoll in the Phoenix Islands belonging to the Republic of Kiribati.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of uninhabited

Adjective

Net-net, this is a genuine improvement for the customers of everything.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The real question is whether the F 450 RR can deliver enough character and genuine riding pleasure to justify its premium positioning, particularly when the middleweight sportbike segment is getting increasingly crowded.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of genuine

Adjective

The plague bacterium appears to have emerged as a human pathogen more than 5,700 years ago, evolving from a soil bacterium called Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, says Hendrick Poinar, a biologist at McMaster University, who works with ancient DNA.

— Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
Using an agent to book a human doctor through a medical portal could be much riskier.

— Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of human

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“Natural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/natural. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of natural

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noun

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