bias 1 of 3

1
2

bias

2 of 3

adverb

bias

3 of 3

verb

as in to turn
to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge bad reviews biased her against the movie, even though it starred one of her favorite actors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun bias contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bias are predilection, prejudice, and prepossession. While all these words mean "an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something," bias implies an unreasoned and unfair distortion of judgment in favor of or against a person or thing.

a strong bias toward the plaintiff

Where would predilection be a reasonable alternative to bias?

While in some cases nearly identical to bias, predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience.

a predilection for travel

When can prejudice be used instead of bias?

The synonyms prejudice and bias are sometimes interchangeable, but prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance.

a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar

When is it sensible to use prepossession instead of bias?

While the synonyms prepossession and bias 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 bias
Noun
In 2020, the California Supreme Court overturned his death sentence, citing that his jury was improperly screened for bias against the death penalty, according to court documents. Santina Leuci, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025 And no apologies at all for the bias against the bigger clubs or the dysfunctional tactical setup; my list, my rules. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
Importantly, beliefs about risk are subjective and are biased by political perspectives. Zachary Russell, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2025 Trump and other Republicans have been critical of VOA for some time, claiming the outlet is biased against conservatives in its coverage, which is broadcasted in nearly 50 languages. Filip Timotija, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bias
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bias
Noun
  • Reportedly, Jane Doe voluntarily dismissed her case with prejudice — meaning the suit is legally prevented from being refiled.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • According to the Purdue Exponent, the charges against Kristine were dismissed with prejudice, meaning she can’t be charged again for the same thing.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The tendency in the forecast has been for the front to set up across southeast portions of the Kansas City forecast area.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • According to Limon-Rocha, various life stressors—such as starting a new school, being bullied, losing a beloved pet, or having a family member with health issues—can all trigger perfectionist tendencies.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 17 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • The documentation details a combination of accelerometer and microphone sensors used to determine when the wearer’s hand is placed diagonally across the chest.
    Andrew Williams, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The space is tight, and tall people should be aware, though Natalia said when doing a floor workout, taller people lay diagonally.
    Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • It is filled with very cautious language (surely taken right from police press releases), which might be intentional to not feed into what is now turning into intense scrutiny over every suspicious death in New England.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • When efforts to repurpose it as a museum or hotel didn’t materialize, Okaloosa County officials stepped in with a forward-thinking plan: turn the SS United States into a reef teeming with life, a win-win boon to the marine environment and to eco-tourism.
    Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • So, Hunt’s partiality for turtlenecks has now become the official look for player headshots over the past two decades.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
  • There should be no equivocation or the appearance of partiality.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The unusual trajectory aligned the Falcon 9 with a perfectly polar orbit at an inclination of 90 degrees to the equator, bringing the four-person crew directly over the North or South Pole every 45 minutes.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
  • And grant funding has become less reliable as state governments face their own financial challenges while the Trump administration has shown little inclination to aid transit systems.
    Soumya Karlamangla, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But more recently, partisanship has affected the setting of standards.
    David J. Vogel, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
  • During a time of intense partisanship, those numbers speak volumes about the importance of public lands to everyday Americans.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • In an unprecedented move, our public schools handed out hundreds of thousands of devices to help more than 1 million students continue to safely learn online with their teachers and classmates.
    Dr. Mitchell Katz, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bias.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bias. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bias

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!