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
• proclivity
• predisposition
• 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
• idiosyncrasy
• like
• practice
• eccentricity
• one-sidedness
• custom
• peculiarity
• forte
• 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

The driving rock guitars and layered vocal textures recall TV on the Radio’s experimentation, and Galanin shares certain vocal and political affinities with Moses Sumney. —Petala Ironcloud, Pitchfork, 20 Jan. 2026

Kate’s brother, James Middleton, has shared his thoughts on why the couple has such a strong affinity for dogs. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 19 Jan. 2026

The younger Purdy acknowledged that Brock not only gave him his affinity for colder weather, but has helped teach him the ins and outs of football. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026

That John Madden should have had an affinity for the Monsters of the Midway is hardly shocking; the Bears, after all, are the embodiment of his BOOM! —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026