inborn

adjective

ˈin-ˈbȯrn How to pronounce inborn (audio)
Definition of inbornnext
1
as in inherent
being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing an inborn talent for dancing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in genetic
genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring certain instincts are inborn in mice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 Platt notes that this change in approach came at a time when popular ideas about race were shifting toward a focus on inborn, genetic differences. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 28 Jan. 2025 Marcy Thompson: Motherly love to this group would seem to have a particular definition, one that was inborn and could not be challenged, even using a psychoanalytic framework as Margarethe did. —Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inborn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inborn
  1. inherent
  2. genetic
  3. intrinsic
  4. hereditary
  5. integral
  6. essential
  7. inheritable
Adjective
  • Photograph: Courtesy of Sean Hartnoll For decades, physicists and mathematicians have wanted to show that these chaotic dynamics are not an artifact of the simplifying assumption of decoupling, but inherent to black holes.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Wired News, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Watch less often and watch more than one network, taking inherent and obvious biases into account.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of inherent
Adjective
  • The remains were found by a person walking through the woods in Wilkeson, Washington, south of Seattle, in October 1997, according to a news release from the forensic genetic genealogy company Othram.
    — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Zoom in: The company believes these clones — or future clones and offspring — could bring genetic diversity to the captive breeding population of red wolves.
    — Zachery Eanes, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of genetic
Adjective
  • In fact, gardening ranked among the top five activities that participants found most meaningful, which speaks to the deep, intrinsic satisfaction such hobbies bring.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The most important factor behind a player’s intrinsic value is their quality.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of intrinsic
Adjective
  • By contrast, the plantation economy relied on rigid racial hierarchies and hereditary enslavement.
    — Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Between five and 10% of cases will be considered hereditary, meaning that the cancer was caused by a genetic abnormality that was passed down from the mother or father.
    — Joanne Fowler, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of hereditary
Adjective
  • This number continues to increase every day, making social media a non-negotiable, integral part of any successful business strategy for companies who want to capture public attention and enter their markets fast.
    — Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Consider one condiment that is becoming increasingly integral to American cuisine: chili crisp.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of integral
Adjective
  • Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.
    — Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Since 2014, the ACL Hall of Fame has honored artists who have played an essential role in the series’ half-century as a premier supporter of top-shelf music.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of essential
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
Definition of inheritable

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inboards
inborn
inbreathe
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Cite this Entry

“Inborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inborn. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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