Definition of predilectionnext

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 The big unknown, of course, is how long Trump is willing to stay selling the idea, and whether Republicans will bend to his predilections. Philip Elliott, Time, 14 Jan. 2026 The actor has, over the years, garnered some amount of infamy for his seeming predilection for women under 30. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026 In 1970s Tacoma, a young girl with a predilection for spooky phenomena is seeing demons. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026 PlatinumGames share many of the same predilections at Team Ninja (mainly boobs and violence) but carved their own niche as the creators of hyper-kinetic action games like Bayonetta that stretch the boundaries of what the human attention span can manage. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for predilection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predilection
Noun
  • If readers are at all uncertain of his sociopathic tendencies, Heathcliff then hangs his wife’s dog.
    Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The Turkish experience also speaks to the tendency of diasporas to become politically frozen at the moment of departure from their home countries.
    Michael Paarlberg, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • This is because when people lose weight, the body’s natural inclination is to return to its previous weight – a phenomenon called metabolic adaptation.
    Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 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
  • In September, a swarm of Russian drones flew into Poland's airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble to intercept them and shoot down some of the devices.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The countries announced a framework for the agreement in November, saying Argentina would ease restrictions on a range of American imports, including cattle, dairy products, medicines, chemicals, machinery, medical devices and vehicles.
    Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The Athletic Club Oakland was a haven for sports-lovers of all affinities.
    John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Chris and Mike have always supported their kids’ affinity for the game and often put on a realistic lens.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • By cutting so much of Brontë’s sprawling novel down to the quick, by focusing so squarely on just Cathy and Heathcliff, we’re trapped only in the immediacy of their doomed affection, which is never allowed to be hot enough to make the entire effort come together, let alone come undone.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The psychonauts have a deep affection for the models, and the Summit Bridge exercise moved Nostalgebraist to publish an indignant post.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Predilection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predilection. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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