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

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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
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 Of course, the disembodied nature of these companions is a limitation. —Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 14 July 2025 Her works, spanning different languages and covering diverse themes highlighted her versatile nature. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 July 2025 Set atop a hill with a breathtaking view over the city, Kiyomizu-dera offered us a beautiful blend of history, culture, nature, and spirituality—all in one unforgettable stop. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025 Robert Macfarlane is a British writer internationally known for his writing on nature, people, and place. —A Dialogue, Literary Hub, 14 July 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
  • After turning to booze, running out of money, and once again losing his now-late grandma's house, Happy is a shell of his former self.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 25 July 2025
  • When Chandra first detected the X-ray emission from the tidal disruption event, this stream was just beginning to wrap back on itself, the self-intersection giving rise to shock-heating that produced X-rays.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of self
Noun
  • Lost Dutchman State Park puts people up close to the craggy mountains' wilderness with abundant saguaro cactuses in the foreground, which can be seen from hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult.
    — Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 15 July 2025
  • Primary concerns are recreation/PCT, wilderness values and firefighter safety in rough terrain.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2025
Definition of wilderness
Noun
  • The festival is the largest of its kind in the United States and is sponsored by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
    — Jane Tyska, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
  • Allegiant does not tolerate disruptive behavior of any kind.
    — Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
Definition of kind
Noun
  • In this sense, Skeptical Intelligence can be thought of as a disposition for critical thinking applied rigorously to the modern data and AI landscape.
    — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Was that what gave me a British disposition according to Joya’s parents?
    — Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Definition of disposition
Noun
  • With continuation funds, asset managers in essence are using new investors’ money to pay off old ones.
    — Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • The miscommunication that Scorsese’s blurb refers to as the essence of our crise is the product of both political tragedy and B-movie sensationalism.
    — Armond White, National Review, 23 July 2025
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Topanga's big chop was an iconic moment in the Boy Meets World universe — and Danielle Fishel said her mom kept a memento of it after all these years.
    — Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 20 July 2025
  • Each layer represents a theory of a universe that imperfectly approximates the real one.
    — Charlie Wood, Wired News, 20 July 2025
Definition of universe
Noun
  • In the initial study of over 1,200 single adults, MacDonald and his team were able to associate these different motivations with a host of personality traits: Intrinsic motivation.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • Keys also stars in a campaign spot alongside popular TikTok personalities Noah Beck, Cyrus Veyssi and Dr. Muneeb Shah.
    — Hedy Phillips, People.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of personality
Noun
  • Their temperament depends greatly on how well they are raised and trained.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • That meal will align with their temperament and preferences, based on their psychic reading.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 10 July 2025
Definition of temperament

Phrases Containing nature

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naturalness
nature
natures
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Cite this Entry

“Nature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nature. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nature

Nglish: Translation of nature for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nature

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