HEREDITY Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

heredity

noun

Definition of heredity

as in blood

formal the natural process by which physical and mental qualities are passed from a parent to a child Heredity plays no part in the disease.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of heredity To truly understand genes and heredity, researchers had to learn to read the DNA code. — Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025 In short, heredity advancement driven by desire. — D. Scott Schmid, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025 For people who are profoundly deaf, there is an interruption of the sound signal to the auditory nerve, which can be caused by illness, trauma, or heredity. — IEEE Spectrum, 27 Jan. 2022 The institution of the caliphate, now based on the twin principles of force and heredity, was further degraded from the middle of the tenth century with the rise of Turko-Persian military fiefdoms. — Mohammed Ayoob, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2016 See All Example Sentences for heredity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heredity

Noun

One small study found levels of QAC in household dust rose 62% during the pandemic while levels in human blood rose 77% in just one year.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
But at any age, get a checkup for symptoms such as blood in stool or rectal bleeding; changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of stool that lasts more than a few days; unintended weight loss; and cramps or abdominal pain.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of blood

Noun

Michelle’s older sister, Cynthia Dunbar, said at the press conference that her brother Kevin, his wife Nancy and her cousin Michael submitted their DNA to the genealogy database, which led to identifying Michelle as the victim.

— Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026
Velasquez was arrested earlier this month after Arlington Police used investigative genetic genealogy to link her to a drop of blood found inside the apartment.

— J.D. Miles, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of genealogy

Noun

Although many individuals wanted to move up during the uncertain years of succession, only a subset of high-level political elites had the necessary informal ties and formal authority to be a part of the selectorate.

— Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
So far in 2026, executive search firm Crist Kolder Associates says the CFO-to-CEO succession trend is continuing.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of succession

Noun

Ecological mitigation Alongside the fishway, a breeding program at the plant has released nearly 2 million fish into the wild to stabilize populations, which officials report remain steady.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Meghan personally called animal rights attorney Shannon Keith, who runs the Beagle Freedom Project, after hearing about 4,000 beagles being rescued from overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the Envigo breeding and research plant in Virginia.

— Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of breeding

Noun

The genetic analyses were restricted to people of European ancestry, limiting how confidently the findings can be applied to other populations.

— The Conversation US, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026
Under a 2026 update to screening guidance, men in higher risk groups, including those of Black ancestry, men with germline mutations and men with a strong family history, may be offered screening as early as ages 40 to 45.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancestry

Noun

When Pogosian set one of his early pendants, a hexagon built around the number six, his lucky number since birth, with black diamonds.

— Stephan Rabimov, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The options for the gender that the respondent currently identifies with that differs from that registered at birth are man, woman, nonbinary, prefer not to answer or another term that the respondent can provide.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of birth

Noun

Fashion, beauty, hospitality, entertainment and luxury are increasingly part of the commercial ecosystem surrounding the sport, while brands including Disney and LEGO are using F1 Academy to reach women, families and younger consumers.

— Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
In the new science-fiction mystery The End of Oak Street, Hathaway stars alongside Ewan McGregor as a couple whose family comes face-to-face with dinosaurs in their neighborhood.

— Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of family

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heredities

heredity

hereinbelow

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Style

“Heredity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heredity. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of heredity

noun

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