inherently
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inherently
Explanation
The adverb inherently means in a natural or innate manner. Some people enjoy your inherently cheerful nature, but it drives other people crazy because they find you annoyingly perky. Inherently is the adverbial form of the adjective inherent. They both come from the Latin word inhaerere, meaning "adhere to," with the root haerere meaning "to stick." Synonyms for inherently include intrinsically and essentially. If you do something inherently, it is so well ingrained in you that it's become part of who you are. If you are inherently late to every meeting, you should probably set your watch 15 minutes early.
Vocabulary lists containing inherently
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
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The Fault in Our Stars
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The Poet X
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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.
This was necessary because the “main character isn’t inherently active in every single scene.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
Pure-play AI investments are inherently risky, as returns aren’t yet close to matching the trillions of dollars being spent on tech’s latest craze.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
“These omissions are inherently deceptive,” the court ruling states.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
While match times could be adjusted, thunderstorms are inherently difficult to predict precisely, making them one of the more unpredictable risks facing organisers.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
Unexpected wasn’t an inherently bad way to describe kissing, but it didn’t sound promising either.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
