prepossession

noun

ˌprē-pə-ˈze-shən
Definition of prepossessionnext
1
as in theory
an attitude, belief, or impression formed in advance of actual experience of something the foreign tourists' prepossessions about life in the U.S. had been formed by many hours of American TV shows

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obsession
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned tried to cure him of his prepossession with money

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun prepossession contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of prepossession are bias, predilection, and prejudice. While all these words mean "an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something," prepossession suggests a fixed conception likely to preclude objective judgment of anything counter to it.

a prepossession against technology

When can bias be used instead of prepossession?

The meanings of bias and prepossession largely overlap; however, 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 prepossession?

Although the words predilection and prepossession have much in common, predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience.

a predilection for travel

In what contexts can prejudice take the place of prepossession?

In some situations, the words prejudice and prepossession are roughly equivalent. However, prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance.

a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prepossession
  1. theory
  2. obsession
  3. assumption
Noun
  • But the people interviewed for this story float several theories.
    — Tyler Hicks, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
  • As fear grew in 2023 over the failure to reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling, the White House was said to be considering an option of last resort: an untested legal theory that involves invoking the 14th Amendment.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 June 2025
Definition of theory
Noun
  • Aristotle was able to see his obsessions from a scholarly remove, and to recognize that his drive to spend so much time at depth may have begotten a sort of madness.
    — Matthew Gavin Frank June 12, Literary Hub, 12 June 2025
  • Visionaries often share a tendency for extremism and fervor, an obsession with purity.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 11 June 2025
Definition of obsession
Noun
  • In the trust game, the default assumption might be that others are trustworthy.
    — Tobias Kalenscher, Scientific American, 13 June 2025
  • The assumption is that Jones will be the primary backup to Anthony Richardson, but the Colts are leaving that up to the players to convince the coaching staff based on their performances in training camp and the preseason.
    — Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Definition of assumption
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.

Browse Nearby Words

prepossessing
prepossession
prepossessions
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Cite this Entry

“Prepossession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prepossession. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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