Synonym Chooser

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

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

While the synonyms inborn and congenital 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 could inbred be used to replace congenital?

Although the words inbred and congenital have much in common, 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

When is innate a more appropriate choice than congenital?

The words innate and congenital can be used in similar contexts, but 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 congenital Where the r-slur is concerned, one recalls Trump’s grotesque imitation in 2015 of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski, who has arthrogryposis, a congenital joint condition. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2025 Related article Can forgotten rubella children of the ’60s hold clue for Zika babies? Among women who are infected with rubella early in pregnancy, there’s a 90% chance the baby will have congenital rubella syndrome. Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025 Only approximately 50 cases of congenital hypertrichosis — since someone's birth — have been documented since the Middle Ages, Guinness World Records officials said. Sam Gillette, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025 This is why Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children came together to host Cardiology 2025, the 28th annual pediatric and congenital cardiovascular disease conference, held last week in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Jack Rychik and Craig Fleishman, Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for congenital
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congenital
Adjective
  • The pope, who has chronic lung disease and previously had part of one lung removed, was admitted to the hospital on February 14 with a complex respiratory infection.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Manage chronic conditions like diabetes that may interfere with wound healing.
    Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Shaw has said he was reborn after the shooting and years later would become a born-again Christian.
    Jordan Blum, Houston Chronicle, 9 June 2019
  • In his mid-40s, Mr. Phillips had quietly become a born-again Christian after attending a Billy Graham rally.
    James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 18 Jan. 2019
Adjective
  • The natural chaos of life can make uncertainty feel even worse, Dr. Gallagher says.
    Korin Miller, SELF, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Imagine what the Adebayo/Ware combination could be offensively if the Heat had a frontline natural point guard or another more consistent floor-spacer to supplement Herro.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 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

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Cite this Entry

“Congenital.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congenital. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on congenital

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