inherent

adjective

inherent traits

Syn:

intrinsic, innate, immanent, built-in, indwelling, inborn, ingrained, deep-rooted; essential, fundamental, basic, structural, organic; natural, instinctive, instinctual, congenital, native

Ant:

acquired

••

inherent, congenital, essential, inborn, ingrained, innate, intrinsic

A quality that is inherent is a permanent part of a person's nature or essence (an inherent tendency to fight back). If it is ingrained, it is deeply wrought into his or her substance or character (ingrained prejudice against women). Inborn and innate are nearly synonymous, sharing the basic sense of existing at the time of birth, but innate is usually preferred in an abstract or philosophical context (innate defects; innate ideas), while inborn is reserved for human characteristics that are so deep-seated they seem to have been there from birth (an inborn aptitude for the piano). Congenital also means from the time of one's birth, but it is primarily used in medical contexts and refers to problems or defects (congenital color-blindness; a congenital tendency toward schizophrenia). Intrinsic and essential are broader terms that can apply to things as well as people. Something that is essential is part of the essence or constitution of something (an essential ingredient; essential revisions in the text), while an intrinsic quality is one that belongs naturally to a person or thing (her intrinsic fairness; an intrinsic weakness in the design).