Synonym Chooser

How is the word inbred different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of inbred are congenital, hereditary, inborn, and innate. While all these words mean "not acquired after birth," 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

How are the words congenital and hereditary related as synonyms of inbred?

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 could inborn be used to replace inbred?

While the synonyms inborn and inbred are close in meaning, 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

When might innate be a better fit than inbred?

The words innate and inbred are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 inbred Highly inbred populations are less resilient to environmental stress and changes. Rina Diane Caballar, Ars Technica, 5 Sep. 2022 Other troubling signs: a significant population of juvenile animals or such inbred or hybrid species as white tigers or ligers, a lion crossed with a tiger. Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 This Joan is driven to lead men into battle not by the voices of saints nor a particular fealty to the French monarchy, but by a personal desire for vengeance and an inbred itch for violence. Maureen Corrigan, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 So no one doubted Sergei Bobrovsky’s inbred, blue-collar toughness. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2022 See All Example Sentences for inbred
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inbred
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
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
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
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
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

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

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