intrinsic

The intrinsic qualities of something have to do with its nature. An intrinsic quality of dogs is that they're loyal.

Anything intrinsic comes from within. Doing a job for only money is not intrinsic. Doing a job because you love it is intrinsic; the motivation comes from within. It's good to treat people as having intrinsic value. If you like someone for intrinsic reasons, then you have no other motivation. The opposite of intrinsic is extrinsic, for things that come from the outside instead of from the inside.

Definitions of intrinsic
  1. adjective
    belonging to a thing by its very nature
    “"form was treated as something intrinsic, as the very essence of the thing"- John Dewey”
    synonyms: intrinsical
    inalienable, unalienable
    incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another
    essential
    basic and fundamental
    built-in, constitutional, inbuilt, inherent, integral
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
    inner, internal, intimate
    innermost or essential
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    Antonyms:
    extrinsic
    not forming an essential part of a thing or arising or originating from the outside
    inessential, unessential
    not basic or fundamental
    adventitious
    associated by chance and not an integral part
    adscititious
    added or derived from something outside; not inherent
    alien, foreign
    not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
    external, extraneous, outside
    coming from the outside
    extraneous
    not essential
    show more antonyms...
  2. adjective
    situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts
    “intrinsic muscles”
    Synonyms:
    internal
    happening or arising or located within some limits or especially surface
Word Family
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