anthropomorphic
Americanadjective
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ascribing human form or attributes to a being or thing not human, especially to a deity: Children especially love anthropomorphic tales where talking animal friends have exciting adventures.
Much has been written on the anthropomorphic qualities of the God of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Children especially love anthropomorphic tales where talking animal friends have exciting adventures.
-
resembling or made to resemble a human form.
an anthropomorphic carving.
adjective
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of or relating to anthropomorphism
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resembling the human form
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anthropomorphic
Explanation
Your favorite TV shows when you were a toddler probably had anthropomorphic characters like Thomas the Tank Engine or Arthur, who are non-human, but have human characteristics, such as human faces and the ability to talk. You may have heard of anthropology, the study of human beings. Like anthropomorphic, it derives from the Greek word anthrōposi, which means "human being." One thing human beings like to do is anthropomorphize animals and inanimate objects. If that sounds fancy, just think about a kindergarten student putting a smiley face on his drawing of a sun.
Vocabulary lists containing anthropomorphic
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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We the People: Anthrop
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anthropomorphic animals in the form of actors in suits and masks, including a cameo of the title character of the duo’s previous film “Sylvio,” populate a vivid universe with humbly sumptuous production design.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2022
Finally, check out the deleted musical number “The Anthropomorphic Zoo,” sung by songwriter Marc Shaiman, and accompanied by storyboard style illustrations.
From Washington Times • Mar. 20, 2019
The reveal: Anthropomorphic M&Ms are the occupants of the back seat, and now they’ve been mashed into a chocolate bar by gravitational forces.
From Slate • Feb. 4, 2019
Anthropomorphic but also morphologically rendered, Potter’s animals capture the soul of the Edwardian countryside.
From Washington Post • Sep. 7, 2016
Anthropomorphic deities were decorated with the symbols and flowers of folk religion.
From Myths of Babylonia and Assyria by Mackenzie, Donald Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
