The word \"synthetic\" can mean just about anything made by man and not naturally occurring. In this case, the \"synthetic\" appears to be simply a gazillion strands of plastic twisted together into a cable. It comes with sturdy hooks, and I tested it by connecting it to one vehicle and pulling another. It worked fine, but my concern, and why I withheld a star, is that I believe the synthetic material can be easily sliced, melted, worn, or otherwise compromised with regular use.