1
as in liking
to show partiality toward
I generally prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selecting
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
most buyers of that vehicle have preferred the model with four-wheel drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preferring
Salma Arafa, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Its members resist transparency about their decision making, preferring discretion and control.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Great white sharks frequently travel north in the summer and south in the winter, a habit experts suspect has to do with preferring more temperate waters.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
Ghost had a preference for interacting with her aquarist caregiver, sometimes preferring these interactions over eating.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
The vote supporting the pay raise was not unanimous as trustees Michael Allman and Phan Anderson voted against it, preferring instead that board members get the maximum allowed by the state of $2,000 per month.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Oddfellow, on the other hand, was cerebral and controlled, preferring to use supernatural powers and mess with people’s minds.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
More recently, White House officials have attempted to steer HHS away from the issue entirely as midterms approach, preferring to focus on more politically popular issues like food policy.
—Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 20 Mar. 2026
Conventional economic thinking holds that corporate dealmakers will bide their time during periods of intense volatility, preferring instead to wait for calmer conditions.
—Charles Daly, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
Nok remains hopeful, preferring not to give much weight to politics.
—Salma Arafa, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Its members resist transparency about their decision making, preferring discretion and control.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Great white sharks frequently travel north in the summer and south in the winter, a habit experts suspect has to do with preferring more temperate waters.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
Ghost had a preference for interacting with her aquarist caregiver, sometimes preferring these interactions over eating.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
The vote supporting the pay raise was not unanimous as trustees Michael Allman and Phan Anderson voted against it, preferring instead that board members get the maximum allowed by the state of $2,000 per month.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Oddfellow, on the other hand, was cerebral and controlled, preferring to use supernatural powers and mess with people’s minds.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
More recently, White House officials have attempted to steer HHS away from the issue entirely as midterms approach, preferring to focus on more politically popular issues like food policy.
—Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 20 Mar. 2026
Conventional economic thinking holds that corporate dealmakers will bide their time during periods of intense volatility, preferring instead to wait for calmer conditions.
—Charles Daly, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferring
Verb
-
And the robot companies’ success hinges in part on people liking the robots.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Yet somehow, in spite of themselves, everyone kind of winds up liking him.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sleep divorce simply means couples choosing to sleep in separate beds or bedrooms.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
-
These funky new qLDPC codes come in many forms, and choosing which one to use typically involves a tradeoff.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Eco effort Architects made sure to prioritize sustainability when designing this hotel, favoring energy-efficient technologies and geothermal energy wherever possible.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The latest maps made that district more competitive while still favoring Republicans.—
Scott Bauer,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Duchess opted for another look from the designer on day three of her and Prince Harry's visit to Colombia, this time selecting an easy-breezy matching top and skirt.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This is why selecting the appropriate size and style of area rug for your room is crucial.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Josh gets to sit back, relax and focus on being a dad while enjoying the fleeting moments of high school ball before Michaela heads to college.—
Charles Baggarly
April 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
These are the public spaces that guests mill about in—sipping a berry cooler at the long bar, enjoying a glass of malbec and a read by the stove, or playing monopoly at the communal table.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So is picking our favorite food, movies, sports and almost anything else where our individual preferences don’t always align with that of others.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than picking a fight with the White House, Blanco said, the judges are letting the top prosecutor fall on his face.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When the winter transfer window opened, there was significant interest from clubs wanting to take him on loan, because the player was still not getting many minutes at Barca.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Unions and district remain apart on salary increases, with teachers seeking 17% raises and Local 99 workers — some of the lowest-paid — also wanting stability.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferring. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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