innate

[ih-neyt, in-eyt] / ɪˈneɪt, ˈɪn eɪt /

ADJECTIVE

inherited, native

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deep-seated elemental inborn ingrained inherent instinctive intrinsic intuitive

WEAK

congenital connate connatural constitutional essential hereditary inbred indigenous natural normal regular standard typical unacquired

Antonyms

STRONGEST

acquired extrinsic incidental learned meditated

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I have an innate ability to take good material and make it better, and to take bad material and make it fair."

From BBC • May 30, 2026

We have this almost innate sense of: Well, if they indict someone, that person probably did something pretty bad.

From Slate • May 22, 2026

Humor resonates with something individual, possibly innate and probably inexplicable inside each of us; our sense of it is something we can’t control.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

“Well, yes, I do believe we have innate aggressive tendency,” she said.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

The question is this: is there such a thing as innate talent?

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Vocabulary lists containing innate

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