Definition of inclinationnext
1
2
as in tilt
the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle the photographer adjusted the inclination of the sitter's head

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon the inclination of the hill is gentle, so walking up it isn't too bad

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 inclination Born to a humble family in the twilight years of the shogunate, Higuchi Natsuko (as she was born) was the fourth child and second daughter of a man with scholarly inclinations, who as a farmer had come to the capital to seek both fortune and rank. Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 As organizations grow, leaders have an inclination to create more bureaucracy and more complexity. Bob Rhatigan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 Any two people’s perspectives of the fest are likely to vary wildly depending on their professional remit or personal inclination. Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 May 2026 Over the last week or so, the four satellites adjusted their inclinations—the angles of their orbits to the equator—by less than a degree. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for inclination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inclination
Noun
  • There is still a tendency in tech to assume serious funding has to flow through San Francisco or New York, but capital is increasingly available in markets that historically sat outside the center of the venture ecosystem.
    Hebron Sher, Fortune, 29 May 2026
  • Overprivileged students had a tendency to see teachers and headmasters not as authority figures but as people of lower social standing.
    Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Once this happens, Earth reaches a point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its highest tilt toward the sun, The Sacramento Bee previously reported, launching the summer season.
    Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026
  • Edwards Lifesciences checks the boxes that matter most for our momentum strategies — solid fundamentals, a meaningful growth tilt and a stock price beginning to confirm the story that the business is telling.
    Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Just hundreds of sheep clinging to the grassy slopes.
    Lori Rackl, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
  • Park rangers and mountain guides install and maintain snow pickets — which are used to help build anchors for extra protection on areas like steep slopes — between the high camp and Denali Pass, the park has said.
    Becky Bohrer, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • During the regular season, both were among the top seven NBA teams by defensive rating, and the Knicks particularly improved by that defensive aptitude as the season went on.
    John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • Even if he was blown away by the aptitude of every member of a front office that has been here for the 22-45-1 run under Schoen, it still was expected that Harbaugh would bring in someone with ties to him from Baltimore.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Noun
  • The Iron Shark roller coaster at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier came to a stop midride, leaving the riders stuck on the incline for several hours.
    Francie Ebert, NBC news, 29 May 2026
  • Rumors and proposals are starting to percolate, revealing the steep incline the Nuggets face to remain a championship contender.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The sources described it as a preliminary operation laying the groundwork for additional steps by installing listening devices and intelligence equipment in the area.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
  • That treatment gap is reviving interest in experimental blood-filtering devices that can physically remove viral particles from the bloodstream.
    Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Despite a lack of formal diplomatic relations, both sides share close economic ties, cultural affinity and historical connections.
    Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
  • During a launch breakfast in London on Wednesday, Boateng added that his affinity for interior spaces grew directly from his tailoring career, and that shifting from fashion to furnishings felt like a natural transition.
    Mary Wenthur, Footwear News, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inclination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inclination. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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