nature

noun

ˈnā-chər How to pronounce nature (audio)
Definition of naturenext
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

Relevance
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
as in disposition
one's characteristic attitude or mood a boy of a quiet and shy nature

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in essence
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is some artists maintain that color, light, and shadow are the very nature of painting

Synonyms & Similar Words
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 Growing concerns about the risk-free nature of U.S. Treasurys have emerged as the aggressive tariff policies raise fears of inflationary pressures and potential fiscal strain. — Tony Zhang, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025 But each man struggles to remain in the light as the dark sides of their respective natures fight to be released. — ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025 This best-selling midi dress from Madewell is fitted with billowing balloon sleeves that evoke the breezy, carefree nature of the season, while the cool black and white dotted print is a bold choice that breaks up the not-so-groundbreaking florals of the season. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025 The PJs are made with 95 percent viscose from bamboo, a fabric known for its soft, breathable nature. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nature
  1. self
  2. wilderness
  3. kind
  4. disposition
  5. essence
  6. universe
  7. personality
  8. temperament
Noun
  • Christina Ricci is calling the fashion police on her younger self.
    — Lauren Huff, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Here, 19 Forbes Coaches Council members share strategies introverted leaders can use to effectively manage teams while remaining their authentic selves.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of self
Noun
  • Vacationers who were camping nearby tried to capture the dog, but she got spooked and darted off into the wilderness.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The losing party after a presidential election often spends time in the wilderness, but the visceral anger among Democrats toward their party leaders is reaching a level reminiscent of the tea party movement that swept out Republican incumbents 15 years ago.
    — Jonathan J. Cooper, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of wilderness
Noun
  • View Recipe Fruits of all kinds, especially berries, grapes, apples, and citrus, are celebrated by health experts for their anti-inflammatory properties.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Maybe not, and hopefully not, to the same extent—hopefully not ever finding themselves in the position of total dependence on Russian energy of any kind.
    — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of kind
Noun
  • Helping students develop tools and dispositions for critically evaluating media is more important than ever.
    — David Nurenberg, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The agency finally approved the company’s marketing of tests to determine genetic dispositions to 10 health conditions, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and certain blood clotting disorders, in 2017.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of disposition
Noun
  • That, in essence, is Thibodeau’s basketball religion: Selfless basketball rooted in read-and-react execution.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The play is, in essence, a pretty much verbatim retelling of the film, which is both a strength and a weakness.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of essence
Noun
  • The reason for Canada’s anti-American (anti-Gilead, but that’s a distinction without a difference in the show’s universe, and maybe ours) sentiment in season five is almost the opposite of what’s driving Canadian fans to boo our national anthem at sporting events.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The women in the Beatles’ universe played a major role in the group’s personal and musical journey: A constellation of girlfriends, wives, trysts, and exes influenced each band member, their songs, and the band’s direction.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of universe
Noun
  • Earlier this morning, longtime NBA personality and analyst Stephen A. Smith made some wild claims against Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Not to mention, there’s a good dose of nostalgia thanks to a couple of pinball machines as well as an old-school Zoltar fortune-telling machine. Closer to our house, the East Brainerd location has a lot of the same decor but still manages to have a personality all its own.
    — Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of personality
Noun
  • And then there was the matter of whether his temperament was right for Kentucky.
    — Jesse Temple, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • My temperament is to be a little bit more reserved and private than hers.
    — Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of temperament

Phrases Containing nature

Browse Nearby Words

naturals
nature
natures
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nature. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on nature

Nglish: Translation of nature for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nature

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All