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

adj 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
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...

adj 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

Sign up, it's free!

Whether you're a student, an educator, or a lifelong learner, Vocabulary.com can put you on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.