Definition of inclinationnext
1
2
as in tilt
the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle the photographer adjusted the inclination of the sitter's head

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon the inclination of the hill is gentle, so walking up it isn't too bad

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 inclination The younger Khamenei is close to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the regime’s decision to elevate him to the top spot is seen as evidence hard-liners are in charge with little inclination to reach a deal that ends the war. Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026 This inclination means Karnišovas outright refuses to direct coach Billy Donovan to take any tanking measures, despite clearing the way for this strategy at the trade deadline. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026 My inclination next holiday is to continue to hand him the cookies and the card but not the cash. R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026 But in fact there has been some tension between Kennedy and Berman’s idealistic vision of a smallish-scale magazine that would encourage political engagement and Hachette’s more commercial inclinations. Rebecca Mead, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inclination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inclination
Noun
  • But overall, the global findings jibe with other research that has demonstrated that young people today have been showing many positive trends, including a tendency to be more empathetic, less narcissistic, more inclusive and even more patient than past generations.
    Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Our results show a tendency, not a rule, and understanding where this variation comes from will be fascinating to discover.
    Logan S. James, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But all the myth and sorrow around the dynasty mean many takes tilt hagiographic.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The winner of Sunday’s tilt is likely to face UCLA in the Sweet 16.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Iconic mountain towns like Aspen, Colorado, and Park City, Utah, were seen with shockingly bare slopes, as the region endured a historic snow drought that experts warn could bring water shortages and wildfires in the months ahead.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Experts attributed the deaths to an exceptionally unstable snowpack and the rush of skiing enthusiasts to off-piste slopes after recent heavy snowstorms.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Flutie played beyond his physical abilities partly because of his aptitude.
    Dan Pompei, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
  • What Godoy does have a great aptitude for, however, is video games.
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Pitchers throw every day in season between competition days, bullpens, flat ground sessions and box drills off of an incline from 35 feet out.
    Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • There’s so much vying for your attention, including a Sisyphus figure in the background rolling his interminable burden up and down an incline, that the maskwork that comes into play can begin to feel like Brechtian overkill.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Indeed, Hamilton says that in her experience, most runners, when left to their own devices, do all of their easy runs at a faster-than-necessary pace.
    Jenny McCoy, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Later, O’Brien touted a fake company tasked with reformatting movies for smaller and smaller handheld devices, but the joke missed the mark.
    Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The Oklahoma Republican has long had an affinity for a pink rubber bouncy ball.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Players have to create teams that exploit a boss’ weakness in order to defeat them, and that means building up characters that have the right elemental affinities.
    Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inclination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inclination. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

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