trend 1 of 2

1
as in tide
a prevailing or general movement or inclination according to the survey, there's a growing trend for companies to run their own day-care centers for the benefit of employees

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

trend

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to tend
to show a liking or proneness (for something) during the winter our school system trends toward canceling school at the drop of a hat—or at least a snowflake

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the river trends east, then west again, forming an oxbow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of trend are current, drift, tendency, and tenor. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

When can current be used instead of trend?

In some situations, the words current and trend are roughly equivalent. However, current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When is drift a more appropriate choice than trend?

The synonyms drift and trend are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When might tendency be a better fit than trend?

The words tendency and trend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

When is it sensible to use tenor instead of trend?

The meanings of tenor and trend largely overlap; however, tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

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 trend
Noun
Photo: Courtesy of Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week The ready-to-wear bohemian trend has officially made its way to the bridal world. Shelby Wax, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025 The Prohibition-era beverage has become even more of a juggernaut in recent years, and the IRL trend has led to a one-dimensional version. Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
Among the top design styles last year, ‘modern Colonial’ ranked second, according to data on trending searches released by Google. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2025 And while liquid blush has been the trending product of choice, powder blush can actually help set your makeup to stay, while contouring your cheekbones just as well. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
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
  • More than a decade after the Ice Bucket Challenge flooded social media with footage of people getting drenched in freezing water for a good cause, the viral craze is back — this time to raise awareness and funds for mental health.
    Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Liquid lipsticks have long evolved since the original 2015 craze.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Some platforms tend to remove the grisliest content, and some ban a few cartels outright.
    Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The sector’s blue chips tend to be overcrowded, which is a recipe for limited yields.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The glass lobby curves around this view and outside is a huge pool deck with bar and lost of open-air seating.
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Highlights in the Land of Enchantment include curving through Apache Canyon, sidling along the red sandstone cliffs near Gallup, and marveling at the barren lava fields of El Malpais National Monument and National Conservation Area.
    Ellen Carpenter, AFAR Media, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In addition, objects from the Kuiper Belt orbit in the opposite direction from everything else in the solar system, according to NASA.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 May 2025
  • Despite some conflicts over the direction the church should take, most experts don't expect the conclave to stretch beyond a few days.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • The latests deaths included three residents of long-term care facilities in Dallas, as well as a Balch Springs man in his 20s and a Dallas man in his 60s.
    Dana Branham, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2020
  • That equates to more than 45 million Americans using CBD products, based on latest available U.S. Census estimates.
    Brendan Bures, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
Verb
  • Friday showed Black families in an authentically humane way without leaning into tragedy or stereotypes.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
  • One of the simplest ways to make running feel a little easier is to lean into your strides.
    Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Providing learning opportunities to help team members understand their natural tendencies and work styles, along with facilitated workshops, can support trust-building and foster more effective collaboration and a thriving culture.
    Kerri Sutey, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Their nastiness and tendency to cross the line showed up a couple of hours earlier.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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