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 So far, the Indian government has shown little inclination to pass the rising energy costs to consumers. Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026 If conservatism is something of an inclination or disposition, leftism of the more radical sort is a form of all-consuming identity, one that fills vacuums in otherwise empty lives and comprehensively guides behavior. Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026 The print that swaths each selection here nods to that sartorial inclination and channels feminine beauty at every angle. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 17 Mar. 2026 So far, Xi continues to favor struggling autocrats over powerful democrats, and has shown little inclination to change course. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inclination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inclination
Noun
  • With long days and warm nights, the spring and summer months have a tendency to bring people together.
    Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • During one rant against cancel culture and its pernicious tendency to smear the innocent, Tillman brings up Joseph McCarthy as a prime example of a person whose reputation was unfairly destroyed.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • When Earth moves through certain parts of its orbit, the tilt causes one half of the globe to lean toward the sun.
    David Yeomans, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • This downward tilt followed a stellar period of growth kick-started in the pandemic-era lockdown when subscriptions surged.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • One branch slopes northeast to feed the Yellowstone caldera, while a second branches off toward the Snake River Plain.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Scheffler rolled in an 18-foot eagle putt on the par-5 second hole, and followed with a driver on the 350-yard third hole that tumbled up the slope and onto the green, setting up a two-putt birdie from about 35 feet.
    Doug Ferguson, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There’s enough aptitude on the roster and the front office to make a wild-card bid work.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Mark Ruffin, a onetime music director at WBEE, recalled Alston’s enterprising nature and her aptitude for sales.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The portable treadmill is designed to fit easily into your space, turning any room into a walking track with adjustable incline, remote control, and a display for tracking distance and calories.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The Sleep Foundation notes that this incline uses gravity to prevent acid from flowing back into the esophagus.
    Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Other options, such as red light therapy caps, are non-invasive devices that use low-level light therapy to stimulate hair follicles and increase density.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Reviewing those can determine if more specific devices are covered by Cinch’s plans.
    Caroline Ernst, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The concrete structure’s open layout encourages meandering discovery, with works chosen to reveal new affinities and connections across cultures and centuries.
    Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • His confrontational rhetoric toward allies and international organizations, along with his affinity for authoritarian leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, has also generated profound distrust.
    Sergio Munoz Bata, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inclination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inclination. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on inclination

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster