predilection

noun

ˌpre-də-ˈlek-shən How to pronounce predilection (audio)
Definition of predilectionnext
as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing a young lad with a predilection for telling tall tales

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun predilection contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of predilection are bias, prejudice, and prepossession. While all these words mean "an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something," predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience.

a predilection for travel

When could bias be used to replace predilection?

Although the words bias and predilection have much in common, bias implies an unreasoned and unfair distortion of judgment in favor of or against a person or thing.

a strong bias toward the plaintiff

When is it sensible to use prejudice instead of predilection?

The words prejudice and predilection can be used in similar contexts, but prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance.

a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar

When can prepossession be used instead of predilection?

While the synonyms prepossession and predilection are close in meaning, prepossession suggests a fixed conception likely to preclude objective judgment of anything counter to it.

a prepossession against technology

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of predilection Written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkleton, the play reimagines the former first lady as a wannabe cabaret singer with a predilection for drinking and disdain for her husband, the President of the United States. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 The Phillies have tried to balance their predilection toward riskier, high-ceiling players with the college pitchers. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Thankfully, there’s a wonderful piece of technology called AI out there that’s perfect for realizing the juvenile aesthetic predilections of stunted creatives who want to wallow in an imagined idea of what the past was like. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 22 July 2026 Specifically more in the air and more to leftfield, given his past predilection to focus on the right side of the field, with his high-contact, low-strikeout approach that seems a contradiction to his muscular, slugger-type build. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for predilection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predilection
  1. tendency
  2. inclination
  3. aptitude
  4. devices
  5. affinity
  6. affection
Noun
  • Research has also found that across generational groups, greater user tendency to engage in social comparison, together with greater maladaptive ways of coping with emotions, is associated with more symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression.
    — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Good and bad tendencies overlap and swirl — the Gators, a new property every week.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of tendency
Noun
  • At Roberto Cavalli, makeup artist Yadim had the same inclination for highly pigmented metallic shades, a choice that punctuated key looks also at Jil Sander.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI’s closest rival, Anthropic, has shown no inclination to delay its own IPO, which is expected sometime before year’s end.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of inclination
Noun
  • The Duke then entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, where his aptitude for foreign languages was recognized with a prize.
    — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Naturally, his work at Celine has now been put in conversation with hers, especially because both designers share an aptitude for creating clothes real people want to wear–and, therefore, many of the same fans.
    — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of aptitude
Noun
  • For the tinkering types, Meta also released open weights for Muse’s code to help people connect it to a range of other devices.
    — Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Chinese clinical tools, medical devices, and enabling technologies are likely to become increasingly central, as well.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of devices
Noun
  • Asked about music, the artist somewhat reluctantly traces his affinity back to childhood.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • To qualify, each candidate had to demonstrate consistent binding at both laboratories, meet a specified affinity threshold, and show no detectable binding to an unrelated human protein used as a control.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of affinity
Noun
  • In Idaho, Risch ‘found the right place’ Risch’s affection for Idaho dates back more than six decades.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Five years earlier my brother had gotten married, leaving me home alone without the buffers of his distracted affection, his big brotherly insouciance, his rebellious indifference to the emotional chasm widening between our parents.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of affection

Browse Nearby Words

predicts
predilection
predilections
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Cite this Entry

“Predilection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predilection. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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