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as in trend
a prevailing or general movement or inclination we'll be seeing a tendency for skirt lengths to get shorter this coming season

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word tendency different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of tendency are current, drift, tenor, and trend. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

In what contexts can current take the place of tendency?

Although the words current and tendency have much in common, current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When is it sensible to use drift instead of tendency?

In some situations, the words drift and tendency are roughly equivalent. However, drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities
got the drift of her argument

Where would tenor be a reasonable alternative to tendency?

The synonyms tenor and tendency are sometimes interchangeable, but tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

When can trend be used instead of tendency?

The words trend and tendency can be used in similar contexts, but trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

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 tendency Researchers noticed this tendency even when proofs contained significant flaws. ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025 This tendency often places them on the minority side of issues where public opinion leans heavily the other way: the 20 side of an 80-20 split. Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2025 But even some scholars who say Trump has autocratic tendencies think the American system should be able to withstand them. Frank Langfitt, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025 The tendency for successive U.S. administrations to regularly reverse the policy initiatives of their predecessors has heightened this uncertainty, frustrating efforts to develop the resources needed to strengthen American self-sufficiency and slow climate change. Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tendency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tendency
Noun
  • The American Public Health Association says that as global average temperatures rise, these trends will continue and make allergies an increasing public health concern.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Second, Upwork’s Freelance Forward report released in late 2023 which analyzed the microeconomic and industry trends surrounding freelancing, found that 64 million Americans (the equivalent to about 38% of the U.S. workforce) are already freelancers.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Australia’s giant kangaroos of yesteryear were likely homebodies — and that inclination ultimately did them in.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Even if both premises are correct—that Putin has Hitlerian inclinations and wants to expand into eastern Europe—Western societies may struggle to mobilize the requisite political will and economic resources to contend with the threat.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Though olive oil coffee can be a healthy way to enjoy your daily coffee, consuming it in moderation is key.
    Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 2 May 2025
  • In recent months though, and as the weather’s picked up, another style of jeans has been shuffling their way onto our moodboards.
    Daisy Jones, Vogue, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • On April 28, Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party won a comeback election on a tide of anti-Trump sentiment.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Amid the crushing weight of history and with the sound of a large bandwagon frantically emptying across the city, Craig Berube is left to press on against the tide.
    Chris Johnston, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • However, regardless of his aptitude for the sport, Agassi is unlikely to be pursuing full-time pro status anytime soon.
    Amy Woodyatt, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
  • Prior to his seventh birthday, Prince Louis seemingly showed his own aptitude for photography.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Evaluators touted his accuracy and toughness but were less bullish on his arm strength, athleticism and propensity to hold onto the ball too long.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Alec, too, has received plenty of unwelcome media coverage for his propensity to get into public scuffles.
    Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • When the bacterial balance changes in an unhelpful direction, the result could be digestive problems.
    Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 2 May 2025
  • No shortage of leaders have moved in the opposite direction—not least the current occupant in the Kremlin, under whom Russia has transitioned from flawed democracy to unfettered dictatorship.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • However, instead of removing the minerals from the water, these devices make the minerals soluble in the water.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025
  • However, these incidents underscore the importance of regularly updating your devices to stay protected against evolving threats.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tendency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tendency. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

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