as in pursuits
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure
photography is merely an avocation for me—I've never tried to make money off of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avocations
Noun
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Zarco Tony Trejo Three other people were killed during police pursuits so far this week.—
Tom Wait,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026 -
For example, Cheek cites research that connects altruistic behavior and a sense of purpose with reduced inflammation, as opposed to hedonistic pursuits, which can worsen inflammation.—
Keith Wagstaff,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Lessons beyond the game When asked about personality and hobbies, Michaela didn’t give the answer one would expect from a teenager.—
Charles Baggarly
April 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
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The trading card industry is currently enjoying a boom period that Mahan and others attribute to the sudden search for new hobbies amid the Covid-19 lockdowns.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Conversations about how much the suburb of Apex has grown, of how beautiful the pine trees look pressed up against a cloudless sky, of how some sports have changed, maybe, and represented a vanishing way of a simpler life.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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Fairness requires honesty, and the honest truth is that women’s sports exist for a reason.—
Lisa Frizell,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Avocations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avocations. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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