Synonym Chooser

How does the noun aptitude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of aptitude are bent, faculty, genius, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

How are the words bent and aptitude related?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

When could faculty be used to replace aptitude?

In some situations, the words faculty and aptitude are roughly equivalent. However, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

When is it sensible to use genius instead of aptitude?

While in some cases nearly identical to aptitude, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When can gift be used instead of aptitude?

The words gift and aptitude can be used in similar contexts, but gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When would knack be a good substitute for aptitude?

The meanings of knack and aptitude largely overlap; however, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

When might talent be a better fit than aptitude?

The synonyms talent and aptitude are sometimes interchangeable, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

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 aptitude The Watch 8 series also offers a 12-minute running test to gauge your current aptitude for the activity from 1 (beginner) to 10 (pro). PC Magazine, 11 July 2025 There, Jeff’s aptitude for all things science became apparent and his siblings became unwilling participants in his experiments. Alex Gurley, People.com, 29 June 2025 And while the importance of the visual outcome is obvious — achieving undetectable incisions via adept suturing — the aptitude of the practitioner’s craft determines the effect the patient didn’t think enough about in advance: loss, or not, of feeling. Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025 But despite his fearlessness and aptitude for risk, the surfer isn’t immune to the peaks and troughs of life. Amy Woodyatt, CNN Money, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for aptitude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aptitude
Noun
  • Our inclination might be to freeze event planning and ride out the storm, but history shows that innovation thrives in adversity.
    Shawn Pierce, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket arced downrange over the Atlantic Ocean, heading northeast to place its payload into the Kuiper constellation at an inclination of 51.9 degrees to the equator.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • If entry-level roles are replaced by automation, the pipeline of fresh talent will slow to a drip.
    Victoria Usher, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • Second, the young talent the team drafted from the last rebuild needs to be signed to multi-year contracts.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • Because many young parents grew up at a time when diseases like measles were not common, there can be a tendency to not recognize their seriousness.
    Andrew Montequin, jsonline.com, 22 July 2025
  • According to this report, such a tendency creates a false sense of immediacy, which can have a negative impact of real social relationships.
    Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • Brennan, a former DEA agent with a knack for reading between the lines, teamed up with local Detective Scott Apple.
    Christina Coulter, People.com, 19 July 2025
  • Alicia Silverstone’s Cher, a Beverly Hills high school student with a closet of riotous and costly mix-and-match outfits and a knack for negotiating higher grades without actually earning them, comes off as shallow and spoiled.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • However, instead of removing the minerals from the water, these devices make the minerals soluble in the water.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025
  • However, these incidents underscore the importance of regularly updating your devices to stay protected against evolving threats.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Since its founding in 2002, Kendra Scott LLC has consistently infused a Western flair into its products.
    Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • The rainbow leopard print was love at first sight, and the fluttery frill sleeves add just enough flair.
    Emily Glover, Parents, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • So why does Stovall have such an affinity for Charlotte?
    Adam Bell, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2025
  • Chris Drumgoole, President of DXC Global Infrastructure Solutions, told me that DXC has an affinity for mission-critical environments.
    Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • In May, the proud mom shared a Reel on her Instagram of her Mother's Day celebration with her family of nine, which included cards, flowers and gifts from her kids.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Neeson’s Drebin receives an electric vehicle as a gift from rich villain Richard Caine (Danny Huston), complete with a charging unit at the police station.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 1 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aptitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aptitude. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on aptitude

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!