PREOCCUPATION Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

preoccupation

noun

(ˌ)prē-ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-shən

Definition of preoccupation

as in obsession

something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age

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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 preoccupation Trump’s preoccupation with authoritarian strongmen like Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is a slap in the face of a Cuban refugee trying to make a life for his family in Miami. — S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 Somehow still, though, the show approaches its central preoccupation — AI — with a healthy fear but surprising lack of judgment. — Meredith Haggerty, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026 His output more closely resembles that of an old studio film director’s than of a typical contemporary literary novelist, with certain themes and preoccupations reappearing across books of otherwise disparate subject matter. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 Advertisement America’s preoccupation with the war on terror did squander its unipolar decade. — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preoccupation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupation

Noun

This latest obsession from Japan focuses on a plump, fresh finish, one that calls to mind the softness and suppleness of the famous Japanese dessert for which it is named.

— Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Two groups on Beirut City Pop, Force and Games, are fronted by Saadi, and each shows different sides of his obsessions.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of obsession

Noun

Last month, the Kremlin acknowledged problems with food and medical supplies getting into Oleshky, saying its military was working to resolve them.

— Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
In fact, the Iran war, inflation and the debt problems are potentially about to get even worse.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of problem

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preoccupancy

preoccupation

preoccupations

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

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Synonyms of preoccupation

noun

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