anthropomorphize
verb
an·thro·po·mor·phize
ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈmȯr-ˌfīz 
anthropomorphized; anthropomorphizing
: to attribute human form or personality to
: to attribute human form or personality to things not human
Examples of anthropomorphize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Further anthropomorphizing her work, Stout’s team frequently refers to things by quirky names that occasionally become their titles.
—
Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2023
People may also be more likely to anthropomorphize a fluent agent that has a voice, Eslami says, which could further muddy their understanding of what the technology can and can’t do.
—WIRED, 4 Oct. 2023
Experts warn that anthropomorphizing AI is both potentially powerful and problematic, but that hasn’t stopped companies from trying it.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 12 Oct. 2023
Critics urge their makers to anthropomorphize their products as little as possible to avoid the worst effects of a broken heart.
—Tucker Harris, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
Please be aware that there is an ongoing and dangerous tendency these days to anthropomorphize AI.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022
People who are uncertain about their human attachments can form extra strong attachments with comforting objects, sometimes anthropomorphizing them in the process.
—Britt Peterson, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
But all of these descriptors stem from our all-too-human tendency to anthropomorphize the actions of machines, according to Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a professor at Brown University who helped co-author the White House’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
—Catherine Thorbecke, CNN, 29 Aug. 2023
Which may sound like damning with faint praise, but is really just proof that the human brain can adapt to anything and will take any oppor-tuna-ty to anthropomorphize the face of a new automobile.
—Sam Smith, Car and Driver, 25 July 2023
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Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2023
People may also be more likely to anthropomorphize a fluent agent that has a voice, Eslami says, which could further muddy their understanding of what the technology can and can’t do.
—WIRED, 4 Oct. 2023
Experts warn that anthropomorphizing AI is both potentially powerful and problematic, but that hasn’t stopped companies from trying it.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 12 Oct. 2023
Critics urge their makers to anthropomorphize their products as little as possible to avoid the worst effects of a broken heart.
—Tucker Harris, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
Please be aware that there is an ongoing and dangerous tendency these days to anthropomorphize AI.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022
People who are uncertain about their human attachments can form extra strong attachments with comforting objects, sometimes anthropomorphizing them in the process.
—Britt Peterson, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
But all of these descriptors stem from our all-too-human tendency to anthropomorphize the actions of machines, according to Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a professor at Brown University who helped co-author the White House’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
—Catherine Thorbecke, CNN, 29 Aug. 2023
Which may sound like damning with faint praise, but is really just proof that the human brain can adapt to anything and will take any oppor-tuna-ty to anthropomorphize the face of a new automobile.
—Sam Smith, Car and Driver, 25 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anthropomorphize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1825, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Articles Related to anthropomorphize
Dictionary Entries Near anthropomorphize
Cite this Entry
“Anthropomorphize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropomorphize. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.
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