anthropomorphize
verb
an·thro·po·mor·phize
ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈmȯr-ˌfīz 
anthropomorphized; anthropomorphizing
: to attribute human form or personality to
: to attribute human form or personality to things not human
Examples of anthropomorphize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But people love to anthropomorphize machines, especially people who head generative AI companies.
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Whatever the reason, Stack urged onlookers to avoid anthropomorphizing the whales.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024
The impulse to anthropomorphize this diminutive wooden representation is clearly one Diop shares.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 18 Feb. 2024
My goal in introducing this terminology is to try and avoid using language that seems to anthropomorphize AI.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Researchers writing in papers discussing LLMs were reportedly more likely to anthropomorphize than those writing about other forms of technology.
—Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2024
There’s something about human nature to anthropomorphize objects or anything.
—Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
Further anthropomorphizing her work, Stout’s team frequently refers to things by quirky names that occasionally become their titles.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2023
People may also be more likely to anthropomorphize a fluent agent that has a voice, Eslami says, which could further muddy their understanding of what the technology can and can’t do.
—WIRED, 4 Oct. 2023
Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Whatever the reason, Stack urged onlookers to avoid anthropomorphizing the whales.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024
The impulse to anthropomorphize this diminutive wooden representation is clearly one Diop shares.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 18 Feb. 2024
My goal in introducing this terminology is to try and avoid using language that seems to anthropomorphize AI.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Researchers writing in papers discussing LLMs were reportedly more likely to anthropomorphize than those writing about other forms of technology.
—Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2024
There’s something about human nature to anthropomorphize objects or anything.
—Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023
Further anthropomorphizing her work, Stout’s team frequently refers to things by quirky names that occasionally become their titles.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2023
People may also be more likely to anthropomorphize a fluent agent that has a voice, Eslami says, which could further muddy their understanding of what the technology can and can’t do.
—WIRED, 4 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anthropomorphize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1825, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Articles Related to anthropomorphize
Dictionary Entries Near anthropomorphize
Cite this Entry
“Anthropomorphize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropomorphize. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on anthropomorphize
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share