spontaneously

adverb

Definition of spontaneouslynext
1
as in naturally

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in automatically

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 spontaneously This new study reveals that experimental niobium-titanium alloys can defy this rule at a freezing -253°C (20 kelvin) by spontaneously shifting their atomic structure to form mirror-image twins and generate fresh defects. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026 Plastic has long been considered chemically inert, but in a new lab study, tiny plastic particles in water spontaneously produced highly reactive molecules. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 14 Oct. 2026 There are also snaps from watching TV and catching her work spontaneously—whether in a news segment or at the 2022 VMAs, when Jack Harlow performed on a set that was uncannily Kruger-esque. — Amy Verner, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 Neutrons are unstable when they’re not bound in nuclei, spontaneously spitting out lighter particles in about 15 minutes to become the slightly lighter proton. — Cara Giovanetti, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026 According to this scenario, chemical reactions happened spontaneously between elements and compounds on the early Earth. — Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026 This human connection echoed across the tournament through moments like Colombian fans spontaneously surrounding and chanting for a young Uzbekistan fan to cheer him up. — Jenna Guarneri, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 The Royal Palace in Oslo has become the center of national mourning, and a massive memorial made of mementos has spontaneously formed in the square in front of it. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 9 Sep. 2026 The researchers found that a small number of the agents seemed to resort to cheating spontaneously—about 9%. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spontaneously
  1. naturally
  2. automatically
  3. instinctively
  4. haphazardly
  5. intuitively
  6. abruptly
  7. efficiently
  8. suddenly
Adverb
  • This is a major milestone for us, but honestly, that happened completely naturally and organically.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Women naturally store less creatine than men, and during perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen can take a toll on both muscle health and mental clarity.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of naturally
Adverb
  • Use dimmers, timers, and motion sensors to automatically control lighting in and around your home.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The software will automatically compare incoming satellite images with historical data and flag changes for further examination by intelligence analysts.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of automatically
Adverb
  • Her co-host, Terri Conn, tried to ignore the faux pas and play the moment straight, but Brattin instinctively sunk to floor and hid behind the display table.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That said, there’s something about the first crisp day of the year that makes our editors instinctively reach for the moodier shades that have been hiding at the bottom of our makeup bags for months on end.
    — Catharine Malzahn, Allure, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of instinctively
Adverb
  • Each of the nine beauty favorites below can be haphazardly thrown from your vanity into your bag and through TSA.
    — ElleAnna Revell, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The absence of a living monarch on our money, or on our travel documents, was not an accident haphazardly arrived at but a declaration of equality meant to be flourished and displayed.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of haphazardly
Adverb
  • Study after study points in the same direction, and most leaders intuitively believe the conclusion that great leadership produces great results.
    — Bill Koch, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • That’s one romantic notion of many in a free-floating relationship drama, which employs an intuitively non-linear structure to enliven what is otherwise a fairly conventional, ordinary love story between two attractive but imperfect people.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of intuitively
Adverb
  • Kerry McCoy’s guitar juices up a mid-song gallop by abruptly pivoting from big and noisy to compressed and snarling; at the climax, everything cuts out for a second to spotlight a Daniel Tracy drum fill.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The first preview opens with an innocent domestic exchange between a mother and daughter that abruptly transforms into something strikingly disturbing.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of abruptly
Adverb
  • Manufacturers must produce hardware faster, ground crews must prepare missions in parallel, and reusable boosters must return to service efficiently.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • According to Karlidag, drying similar fabrics together usually helps the load dry more evenly and efficiently.
    — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of efficiently
Adverb
  • The Cyclops, Polyphemus, renders the strength of Odysseus’ crew insufficient, much as expertise that took a company decades to develop can suddenly be commoditized.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • And with Large opening this October, there is suddenly a very good reason to ride line 9 all the way to the end.
    — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of suddenly

Browse Nearby Words

spontaneous
spontaneously
spontaneousness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spontaneously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spontaneously. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All