Synonyms for innate

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modified

inherent, natural, native, intrinsic, inborn, inbred, congenital, hereditary; see also inherent, native 1, natural 1.

innate and inborn are often interchangeable, but innate has more extensive connotations, describing that which belongs to something as part of its nature or constitution, and inborn, the simpler term, more specifically suggesting qualities so much a part of one's nature as to seem to have been born in or with one inborn modesty; inbred refers to qualities that are deeply ingrained by breeding an inbred love of learning; congenital implies existence at or from one's birth congenital blindness; hereditary implies acquirement of characteristics by transmission genetically from parents or ancestors hereditary blondness

See innate in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II

adjective

Possessed at birth:
congenital, hereditary, inborn, inherited, native. See be, native
Forming an essential element, as arising from the basic structure of an individual:
built-in, congenital, connatural, constitutional, elemental, inborn, inbred, indigenous, indwelling, ingrained, inherent, intrinsic, native, natural. See be, native, start

See innate in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms

innate inborn inbred congenital hereditary

These adjectives mean existing in a person or thing from birth or origin. Something that is innate seems essential to the nature, character, or constitution: innate common sense.
Inborn strongly implies that something has been present since birth: inborn intelligence.
What is inbred has often been ingrained through earliest training or associations: an inbred love of music.
Congenital is applied principally to characteristics, especially defects, acquired during fetal development: a congenital disease.
It is also used figuratively of characteristics or people with characteristics that are so deep-seated as to appear natural: a congenital pessimism; a congenital liar.
Hereditary refers to what is transmitted by biological heredity (a hereditary heart anomaly) or by tradition: “that ignorance and superstitiousness hereditary to all sailors” (Herman Melville).

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