syn·thet·ic
sin-ˈthe-tik 
1
: relating to or involving synthesis : not analytic
the synthetic aspects of a philosophy
2
: attributing to a subject something determined by observation rather than analysis of the nature of the subject and not resulting in self-contradiction if negated compare analytic
3
: characterized by frequent and systematic use of inflected forms to express grammatical relationships
synthetic languages
4
a(1)
: of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis
especially
: produced artificially
synthetic drugs
synthetic silk
(2)
: of or relating to a synfuel
b
: devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities
c
: factitious, bogus
: something resulting from synthesis rather than occurring naturally
especially
: a product (such as a drug or plastic) of chemical synthesis
Synonyms
Examples of synthetic in a Sentence
Adjective
that organic farm doesn't use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers
boots of waterproof synthetic leather
Noun
The drug is a synthetic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
Compared to those made of synthetic materials, leather gloves offer less dexterity and breathability.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
For the first time, the federal government is requiring municipal water systems to remove six synthetic chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems that are present in the tap water of hundreds of millions of Americans.
—Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Polyester is a synthetic material that’s much less absorbent and may leave your little one sweaty and clammy.
—Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
Loose parts are natural or synthetic materials, such as rocks or digging tools, that can be moved, combined, taken apart or put back together in multiple ways, encouraging open-ended learning.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
Expert barbers create these units from human or synthetic hair according to the natural hair type/texture of preference of the client.
—Stixx Matthews, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
The synthetic leather slip-ons have a thickened insole and arch support design for comfort.
—Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
Soft-gel capsules typically contain gelatin that's made of synthetic ingredients.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024
Nine people, all from either St. Paul or Minneapolis, have been charged in U.S. District Court in St. Paul with conspiracy to distribute the potent synthetic opioid between August 2022 and December 2023.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2024
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has helped fuel the nation's overdose epidemic, but it is also used in legitimate medical settings to relieve severe pain.
—CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that can be deadly even in small amounts.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024
Like much of the nation, San Diego County has been grappling with skyrocketing rates of overdoses and deaths attributed to the powerful synthetic opioid, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, 100 times stronger than morphine and can be lethal in tiny doses.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2024
The small pieces of paper detect the presence of the highly-lethal synthetic opioid so the user can take steps to prevent an overdose.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Jan. 2024
But even though synthetics are great at wicking away moisture, that’s not always a good thing.
—Amanda Heidt, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
How warm synthetics are is usually based on the weight in grams.
—Meg Carney, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
Adjective
The music would be at once mechanistic and human, cold and hot, synthetic and organic.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
Compared to those made of synthetic materials, leather gloves offer less dexterity and breathability.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
For the first time, the federal government is requiring municipal water systems to remove six synthetic chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems that are present in the tap water of hundreds of millions of Americans.
—Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Polyester is a synthetic material that’s much less absorbent and may leave your little one sweaty and clammy.
—Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
Loose parts are natural or synthetic materials, such as rocks or digging tools, that can be moved, combined, taken apart or put back together in multiple ways, encouraging open-ended learning.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
Expert barbers create these units from human or synthetic hair according to the natural hair type/texture of preference of the client.
—Stixx Matthews, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
The synthetic leather slip-ons have a thickened insole and arch support design for comfort.
—Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
Soft-gel capsules typically contain gelatin that's made of synthetic ingredients.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
Noun
Florida senators on Thursday unanimously passed a bill that would exclude synthetic or naturally occurring delta-8 and delta-10 from being legally sold as hemp products.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024
Nine people, all from either St. Paul or Minneapolis, have been charged in U.S. District Court in St. Paul with conspiracy to distribute the potent synthetic opioid between August 2022 and December 2023.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2024
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has helped fuel the nation's overdose epidemic, but it is also used in legitimate medical settings to relieve severe pain.
—CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that can be deadly even in small amounts.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024
Like much of the nation, San Diego County has been grappling with skyrocketing rates of overdoses and deaths attributed to the powerful synthetic opioid, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, 100 times stronger than morphine and can be lethal in tiny doses.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2024
The small pieces of paper detect the presence of the highly-lethal synthetic opioid so the user can take steps to prevent an overdose.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Jan. 2024
But even though synthetics are great at wicking away moisture, that’s not always a good thing.
—Amanda Heidt, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
How warm synthetics are is usually based on the weight in grams.
—Meg Carney, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'synthetic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near synthetic
Cite this Entry
“Synthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synthetic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
synthetic
1 of 2 adjective
syn·thet·ic
sin-ˈthet-ik
1
: relating to or involving synthesis
2
: of, relating to, or produced by chemical synthesis
especially
: produced artificially
synthetic drugs
synthetic fibers
synthetic
2 of 2 noun
: a product of chemical synthesis
Medical Definition
synthetic
1 of 2 adjective
syn·thet·ic
sin-ˈthet-ik
: of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis
especially
: produced artificially
synthetic drugs
synthetic dyes
synthetic
2 of 2 noun
: a product (as a drug) of chemical synthesis
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