Synonyms of affinity

affinity

noun

ə-ˈfi-nə-tē 

1

as in aptitude

a habitual attraction to some activity or thing

always had an affinity for nurturing living things

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aptitude
• tendency
• inclination
• devices
• affection
• knack
• predilection
• predisposition
• proclivity
• propensity
• impulse
• disposition
• penchant
• bias
• talent
• preference
• partiality
• addiction
• bone
• bent
• genius
• gift
• appetite
• habitude
• leaning
• flair
• prejudice
• turn
• fondness
• taste
• liking
• partisanship
• endowment
• faculty
• favor
• habit
• specialty
• speciality
• like
• idiosyncrasy
• practice
• eccentricity
• custom
• one-sidedness
• peculiarity
• forte
• practise
• fancy
• pattern
• singularity
• quirk
• convention
• routine
• oddity
• way
• kink
• wont
• trick

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distaste
• aversion
• allergy
• dislike
• neutrality
• disfavor
• disinclination
• objectivity
• detachment
• indifference
• impartiality
• disliking
• averseness
• disrelish
• apathy
• nonchalance
• disinterestedness
• unconcern
• insouciance

2

as in kinship

the fact or state of having something in common

a study showing an affinity between obesity and socioeconomic status

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kinship
• relationship
• association
• connection
• correlation
• relation
• linkage
• similarity
• liaison
• bearing
• link
• resemblance
• bond
• relevance
• affiliation
• tie
• alliance
• union
• interrelation
• pertinence
• agreement
• materiality
• accordance
• correspondence
• community
• identicalness
• sameness
• likeness
• conformity
• alikeness
• congruity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• variance
• variability
• incompatibility
• incongruity
• incongruence
• incongruousness

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun affinity differ from other similar words?

The words attraction and sympathy are common synonyms of affinity. While all three words mean "the relationship existing between things or persons that are naturally or involuntarily drawn together," affinity implies a susceptibility or predisposition on the part of the one drawn.

an affinity for mathematics

When might attraction be a better fit than affinity?

While in some cases nearly identical to affinity, attraction implies the possession by one thing of a quality that pulls another to it.

felt an attraction to danger

When would sympathy be a good substitute for affinity?

In some situations, the words sympathy and affinity are roughly equivalent. However, sympathy implies a reciprocal or natural relation between two things that are both susceptible to the same influence.

two minds in sympathy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of affinity

Federal agencies are scrubbing any mention of affinity events, following an initial burst of purges in January of panels or advisory groups pushing anything linked to identities. —Philip Elliott, Time, 17 May 2025

Could this explain the affinity Liliane feels toward Paula? —Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 May 2025

Further highlighting the affinities between the market and the company, Rault said the firm is looking to enhance the engagement with the local community also by way of cultural initiatives implemented locally. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 May 2025

With an affinity for literature and poetry, Morrison managed to pay homage to his bookish roots and blend them with the bohemian flair of the period that would inspire generations of musicians to come. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 20 May 2025