anthropomorphism
1 synonym for anthropomorphism, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The habit of treating animals, objects or other nonhuman things as though they had human characteristics and behaviour.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
theanthropism
How to use anthropomorphism
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
avoid anthropomorphism
accused of anthropomorphism
religious anthropomorphism
It is a formal, somewhat academic word, used in literature, science and theology.
Etymology
The word appeared in the mid-1700s. It is built from two Ancient Greek words, ánthrōpos, meaning human, and morphḗ, meaning form or shape.
Full origin of anthropomorphism →Frequently asked questions
What is anthropomorphism?
It means treating animals, objects or gods as if they had human traits and behaviour.
What is an example of anthropomorphism?
A cartoon mouse that talks, wears clothes and holds opinions is a familiar example. So is saying a car is being stubborn.
Why do scientists warn against anthropomorphism?
In science, especially biology, the word has traditionally been used as criticism when a scientist seems to give animals traits assumed to be exclusively human. In literature it is simply a storytelling device.
