1
as in self
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others it was the grotesque nature of his stories that made them a challenge to get published in mainstream magazines her nature was such that lying was never an option for her the stoic nature of that family enables them to endure one calamity after another

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in wilderness
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation needed to get out of the office and back to nature in order to clear his head

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in kind
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common group together anything round: buttons, lids, coins, and other things of that nature

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
6
as in universe
the whole body of things observed or assumed the belief that all of nature is controlled by an unseen Supreme Being

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word nature distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of nature are character, description, kind, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

Where would character be a reasonable alternative to nature?

Although the words character and nature have much in common, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When is it sensible to use description instead of nature?

The synonyms description and nature are sometimes interchangeable, but description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When can kind be used instead of nature?

In some situations, the words kind and nature are roughly equivalent. However, kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When would sort be a good substitute for nature?

While the synonyms sort and nature are close in meaning, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can type take the place of nature?

The words type and nature are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

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 nature Turf that is not designed or hybridized to thrive in arid conditions like Colorado’s mountains and high plains can need twice as much water in the summer as nature here naturally provides, said bill sponsor Rep. Karen McCormick, a Boulder Democrat. Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2025 But the small-sample-size nature of football makes what works in other sports less effective. Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025 Is there a time of day or night at which nature's heaviest elementary particle stops obeying Einstein's rules? Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Feb. 2025 Their ultimate goal is to inspire students to take care of the planet, get outdoors, and appreciate the beauty of nature. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nature
Noun
  • Heidi Klum is the face of self care brand PosheEra.
    Mikelle Street, WWD, 19 Feb. 2025
  • The adaptive leader integrates I (self), we (others) and it (task and purpose) viewpoints.
    Hylke Faber, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • And somewhere in the wilderness, Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) remains free from her Catholic captors by traveling with her father, Runs His Horse (Michael Spears), but Father Renaud (Sebastian Roché) is still hot on her trail.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The wilderness is also stalking the beleaguered Duttons like a limpy gazelle ripe for the picking.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • A lot of us remember the heyday and watching them and everyone likes a redemption story of some kind.
    Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Nearby, reams of pink fabric, the exact kind used for the artwork, pools in a section on the floor.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Police Conley noted two instances for which Colbert was charged with drugging another person, once in Nevada in 2022 and another time in Jefferson Parish, La., though the chief did not provide details on either incident or information of the disposition of those cases.
    Liam Quinn, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Had there been any discipline, the final disposition of discipline and specific reasons for the discipline would have been public data under state law.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • President Trump has publicly said any peace rested on Ukraine ending its NATO ambitions and relinquishing territory seized by Moscow — in essence ceding to two key Russian demands.
    Charles Maynes, NPR, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Directed by Gabriel Moses, the short film explores the essence of human connection through the rich and vibrant lens of West African culture.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 18 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Hints that Captain America will lead a new super-team and face off against threats from parallel universes at the end of Brave New World harbinger a new MCU where X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and a handful of the Avengers all live and fight in the same universe.
    Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Your protagonist in this action-RPG from the Pillars of Eternity universe is the envoy for the Aedyran Empire, which has for years sent its occupying force to tame and control the wild and unruly islands of the Living Lands.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • As for Reacher’s allies, Duffy’s a federal agent with a thick Boston accent who shares a lot of Reacher’s personality quirks.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
  • And that’s exactly what longtime combat sports personality Ariel Helwani is saying.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Their backgrounds and temperaments could hardly be more different, yet both sense in each other a missing piece. Neglected and roiling with rage, Darren needs to be loved but can’t face his own vulnerability.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
  • Since epic and tragic heroes are in positions of power, temperament and action mesh.
    Rachel Hadas, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nature. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

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