Definition of facultynext
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as in power
a natural ability of the mind or body although they are well into their 80s, the mental faculties of this couple are as sharp as ever

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun faculty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of faculty are aptitude, bent, genius, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

When would aptitude be a good substitute for faculty?

The words aptitude and faculty can be used in similar contexts, but 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 as synonyms of faculty?

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

a family with an artistic bent

In what contexts can genius take the place of faculty?

While the synonyms genius and faculty are close in meaning, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When could gift be used to replace faculty?

The meanings of gift and faculty largely overlap; however, gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When might knack be a better fit than faculty?

The words knack and faculty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

When is talent a more appropriate choice than faculty?

Although the words talent and faculty have much in common, 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 faculty In a statement sent to students obtained by Enquirer media partner Fox19, the university said Terry was placed on administrative leave, removed from campus, prohibited from returning and ordered not to contact any faculty or staff when it was made aware of the investigation. Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Feb. 2026 The system was designed to give students, faculty and staff access to the campus without worrying about parking or driving. Robbie Farias, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026 Federal judges have found that the administration violated the First Amendment by targeting noncitizen students and faculty for deportation based on pro-Palestinian advocacy, with one judge ruling that non-citizens lawfully present in the United States have the same free speech rights as citizens. Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 Organizers said police arrested 12 individuals, including Columbia students, staff and faculty. Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for faculty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faculty
Noun
  • Until crude vulgarians like Miller came along, no prominent American political figure would claim on our behalf a right to use our power for purely selfish ends, at the expense of other democratic states and foreign peoples.
    Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Calling out corporate entities and concentration of power as enemies also appears to be a winning strategy for Democrats in their messaging tactics.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • For all the talent on Seattle’s defense, a single superstar didn’t dominate the game.
    Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Her hard work and talent were recently recognized on a statewide level, as she was named a Fastpitch All-Stater.
    Darla Rivera, Oklahoman, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • What sets Luckin apart has been its ability to build a robust pool of private user traffic through its smartphone ordering app, said Mingchao Xiao, founder of Zhimeng Trends Consulting.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The ability to make something out of nothing may seem uniquely human — a bedrock of creativity that’s led to new kinds of art, music and more.
    Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Russia has seen high-profile technology projects fall short before, and without independent demonstrations, PJN-1’s true capabilities are unclear.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to bolster Japan's offensive military capabilities.
    MARI YAMAGUCHI, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In the era of collaboration, globalization, and entrepreneurship, EQ surpassed IQ as the must-have aptitude for an interconnected world.
    Big Think, Big Think, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The Broncos expect Stidham to play well given his mental aptitude, preparation and personality.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • To degrade what's left of Iran's nuclear program and missile-making capacity?
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Heirs had raised $750 million from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in December to finance the expansion of its own oil producing facility to 100,000 barrels per day within five years, more than doubling the asset’s capacity when it was bought from Shell in 2021.
    Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Epstein gave Siegal $30,000 as a birthday gift in July 2018.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The movie opens with marshland residents, including Lamia and Bibi, lining up far back and pressing urgently forward, jerricans in hand, to receive fresh water at a tanker truck from officials offering it as a gift from Hussein.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Having hit the ground running with the one-two punch of Promising Young Woman (2020) and Saltburn (2023), Fennell immediately showed a knack for provocation and a willingness to poke social-issue bears, even if the aim-to-grasp ratio tended to fall short.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Martin himself has a knack for reinforcing these caricatures.
    Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Faculty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faculty. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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