English Synonyms and Antonyms — Inherent to Involve

congenital, indispensable, innate, native, essential, indwelling, inseparable, natural, immanent, infixed, internal, subjective.

inborn, ingrained, intrinsic, inbred, inhering, inwrought, _Inherent_ signifies permanently united as an element or original quality, naturally existent or incorporated in something so as to have become an integral part.

_Immanent_ is a philosophic word, to denote that which dwells in or pervades any substance or spirit without necessarily being a part of it, and without reference to any working out (compare SUBJECTIVE).

That which is _inherent_ is an _inseparable_ part of that in which it inheres, and is usually thought of with reference to some outworking or effect; as, an _inherent_ difficulty.

God is said to be _immanent_ (not _inherent_) in the universe.

Frequently _intrinsic_ and _inherent_ can be interchanged, but _inherent_ applies to qualities, while _intrinsic_ applies to essence, so that to speak of _intrinsic_ excellence conveys higher praise than if we say _inherent_ excellence.

_Inherent_ and _intrinsic_ may be said of persons or things;

_congenital_, _inborn_, _inbred_, _innate_, apply to living beings.

_Congenital_ is frequent in medical and legal use with special application to defects; as, _congenital_ idiocy.

_Innate_ and _inborn_ are almost identical, but _innate_ is preferred in philosophic use, as when we speak of _innate_ ideas; that which is _inborn_, _congenital_, or _innate_ may be original with the individual, but that which is _inbred_ is inherited.

_Ingrained_ signifies dyed in the grain, and denotes that which is deeply wrought into substance or character.

Antonyms: accidental, extrinsic, outward, superficial, supplemental, casual, fortuitous, subsidiary, superfluous, transient, external, incidental, superadded, superimposed, unconnected.

* * * * * INJURY.

Synonyms: blemish, disadvantage, hurt, loss, prejudice, damage, evil, impairment, mischief, wrong.

detriment, harm, injustice, outrage, _Injury_ (L. _in_, not, and _jus, juris_, right, law) signifies primarily something done contrary to law or right; hence, something contrary to some standard of right or good; whatever reduces the value, utility, beauty, or desirableness of anything is an _injury_ to that thing; of persons, whatever is so done as to operate adversely to one in his person, rights, property, or reputation is an _injury_; the word is especially used of whatever mars the integrity of the body or causes pain; as, when rescued from the wreck his _injuries_ were found to be very slight.

_Injury_ is the general term including all the rest.

_Damage_ (L. _damnum_, loss) is that which occasions _loss_ to the possessor; hence, any impairment of value, often with the suggestion of fault on the part of the one causing it; _damage_ reduces value, utility, or beauty; _detriment_ (L. _deterere_, to rub or wear away) is similar in meaning, but far milder.

_Detriment_ may affect value only;

_damage_ always affects real worth or utility; as a rule, the slightest use of an article by a purchaser operates to its _detriment_ if again offered for sale, tho the article may have received not the slightest _damage_.

_Damage_ is partial; _loss_ is properly absolute as far as it is predicated at all; the _loss_ of a ship implies that it is gone beyond recovery; the _loss_ of the rudder is a _damage_ to the ship; but since the _loss_ of a part still leaves a part, we may speak of a partial or a total _loss_.

_Evil_ commonly suggests suffering or sin, or both; as, the _evils_ of poverty, the social _evil_.

_Harm_ is closely synonymous with _injury_; it may apply to body, mind, or estate, but always affects real worth, while _injury_ may concern only estimated value.

A _hurt_ is an _injury_ that causes pain, physical or mental; a slight _hurt_ may be no real _harm_.

_Mischief_ is disarrangement, trouble, or _harm_ usually caused by some voluntary agent, with or without injurious intent; a child's thoughtless sport may do great _mischief_; _wrong_ is _harm_ done with _evil_ intent.

An _outrage_ combines insult and _injury_.

Compare synonyms for BLEMISH; CRIMINAL;

INJUSTICE.

Antonyms: advantage, benefit, boon, improvement, service, amelioration, blessing, help, remedy, utility.

Prepositions: The injury _of_ the cause; an injury _to_ the structure; injury _by_ fire; _by_ or _from_ collision, interference, etc. * * * * * INJUSTICE.

Synonyms: grievance, injury, unfairness, unrighteousness, wrong.

iniquity, _Injustice_ is a violation or denial of justice, an act or omission that is contrary to equity or justice; as, the _injustice_ of unequal taxes.

In legal usage a _wrong_ involves _injury_ to person, property, or reputation, as the result of evil intent; _injustice_ applies to civil damage or loss, not necessarily involving _injury_ to person or property, as by misrepresentation of goods which does not amount to a legal warranty.

In popular usage, _injustice_ may involve no direct _injury_ to person, property, interest, or character, and no harmful intent, while _wrong_ always involves both; one who attributes another's truly generous act to a selfish motive does him an _injustice_.

_Iniquity_, in the original sense, is a want of or a deviation from equity; but it is now applied in the widest sense to any form of ill-doing.

Compare synonyms for CRIMINAL; SIN.

Antonyms: equity, faithfulness, impartiality, lawfulness, righteousness, fairness, honesty, integrity, rectitude, uprightness.

fair play, honor, justice, right, * * * * * INNOCENT.

Synonyms: blameless, guiltless, inoffensive, spotless, clean, harmless, pure, stainless, clear, immaculate, right, upright, faultless, innocuous, righteous, virtuous.

guileless, innoxious, sinless, _Innocent_, in the full sense, signifies not tainted with sin; not having done wrong or violated legal or moral precept or duty; as, an _innocent_ babe.

_Innocent_ is a negative word, expressing less than _righteous_, _upright_, or _virtuous_, which imply knowledge of good and evil, with free choice of the good.

A little child or a lamb is _innocent_; a tried and faithful man is _righteous_, _upright_, _virtuous_.

_Immaculate_, _pure_, and _sinless_ may be used either of one who has never known the possibility of evil or of one who has perfectly and triumphantly resisted it.

_Innocent_ is used of inanimate substances in the sense of _harmless_; as, an _innocent_ remedy, that is, one not dangerous, even if not helpful.

_Innocent_, in a specific case, signifies free from the guilt of a particular act, even tho the total character may be very evil; as, the thief was found to be _innocent_ of the murder.

See CANDID; PURE.

Antonyms: Compare synonyms for CRIMINAL.

* * * * * INQUISITIVE.

Synonyms: curious, meddlesome, peeping, scrutinizing, inquiring, meddling, prying, searching.

intrusive, An _inquisitive_ person is one who is bent on finding out all that can be found out by inquiry, especially of little and personal matters, and hence is generally _meddlesome_ and _prying_.

_Inquisitive_ may be used in a good sense, tho in such connection _inquiring_ is to be preferred;

as, an _inquiring_ mind.

As applied to a state of mind, _curious_ denotes a keen and rather pleasurable desire to know fully something to which one's attention has been called, but without the active tendency that _inquisitive_ implies; a well-bred person may be _curious_ to know, but will not be _inquisitive_ in trying to ascertain, what is of interest in the affairs of another.

Antonyms: apathetic, heedless, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested.

careless, inattentive, Prepositions: Inquisitive _about_, _concerning_, _in regard to_, _regarding_ trifles.

* * * * * INSANITY.

Synonyms: aberration, delirium, frenzy, madness, alienation, dementia, hallucination, mania, craziness, derangement, lunacy, monomania.

Of these terms _insanity_ is the most exact and comprehensive, including in its widest sense all morbid conditions of mind due to diseased action of the brain or nervous system, but in its more frequent restricted use applied to those forms in which the mental disorder is persistent, as distinguished from those in which it is temporary or transient.

_Craziness_ is a vague popular term for any sort of disordered mental action, or for conduct suggesting it.

_Lunacy_ originally denoted intermittent _insanity_, supposed to be dependent on the changes of the moon (L. _luna_): the term is now applied in general and legal use to any form of mental unsoundness except idiocy.

_Madness_ is the old popular term, now less common, for _insanity_ in its widest sense, but with suggestion of excitement, akin to _mania_.

In the derived sense, _lunacy_ denotes what is insanely foolish, _madness_ what is insanely desperate.

_Derangement_ is a common euphemism for _insanity_.

_Delirium_ is always temporary, and is specifically the _insanity_ of disease, as in acute fevers.

_Dementia_ is a general weakening of the mental powers: the word is specifically applied to senile _insanity_, dotage.

_Aberration_ is eccentricity of mental action due to an abnormal state of the perceptive faculties, and is manifested by error in perceptions and rambling thought.

_Hallucination_ is the apparent perception of that which does not exist or is not present to the senses, as the seeing of specters or of reptiles in delirium tremens.

_Monomania_ is mental _derangement_ as to one subject or object.

_Frenzy_ and _mania_ are forms of raving and furious _insanity_.

Compare synonyms for DELUSION; IDIOCY.

Antonyms: clearness, good sense, lucidity, rationality, sanity.

* * * * * INTERPOSE.

Synonyms: arbitrate, intercept, intermeddle, meddle, intercede, interfere, interrupt, mediate.

To _interpose_ is to place or come between other things or persons, usually as a means of obstruction or prevention of some effect or result that would otherwise occur, or be expected to take place.

_Intercede_ and _interpose_ are used in a good sense; _intermeddle_ always in a bad sense, and _interfere_ frequently so.

To _intercede_ is to come between persons who are at variance, and plead with the stronger in behalf of the weaker.

One may _interpose_ with authority; he _intercedes_ by petition.

To _intermeddle_ is to thrust oneself into the concerns of others with a petty officiousness; _meddling_ commonly arises from idle curiosity; "every fool will be _meddling_," _Prov.

_ xx, 3; to _interfere_ is to intrude into others' affairs with more serious purpose, with or without acknowledged right or propriety.

_Intercept_ is applied to an object that may be seized or stopped while in transit; as, to _intercept_ a letter or a messenger; _interrupt_ is applied to an action which might or should be continuous, but is broken in upon (L. _rumpere_, to break) by some disturbing power; as, the conversation was _interrupted_.

One who _arbitrates_ or _mediates_ must do so by the request or at least with the consent of the contending parties; the other words of the group imply that he steps in of his own accord.

Antonyms: avoid, keep aloof, keep out, retire, stand back, hold aloof, keep away, let alone, stand aside, stand off, hold off, keep clear, let be, stand away, withdraw.

Prepositions: Interpose _between_ the combatants; _in_ the matter.

* * * * * INVOLVE.

Synonyms: complicate, embroil, implicate, include, embarrass, entangle, imply, overwhelm.

To _involve_ (L. _in_, in, and _volvo_, roll) is to roll or wind up with or in so as to combine inextricably or inseparably, or nearly so; as, the nation is _involved_ in war; the bookkeeper's accounts, or the writer's sentences are _involved_.

_Involve_ is a stronger word than _implicate_, denoting more complete entanglement.

As applied to persons, _implicate_ is always used in an unfavorable sense, and _involve_ ordinarily so; but _implicate_ applies only to that which is wrong, while _involve_ is more commonly used of that which is unfortunate; one is _implicated_ in a crime, _involved_ in embarrassments, misfortunes, or perplexities.

As regards logical connection that which is _included_ is usually expressly stated; that which is _implied_ is not stated, but is naturally to be inferred; that which is _involved_ is necessarily to be inferred; as, a slate roof is _included_ in the contract; that the roof shall be water-tight is _implied_; the contrary supposition _involves_ an absurdity.

See COMPLEX.

Antonyms: disconnect, distinguish, explicate, extricate, remove, separate.

disentangle, * * * * * JOURNEY.

Synonyms: