inclinations

noun

plural of inclination
1
as in tendencies
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing her natural inclination to help people in need

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tilts
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 inclines
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

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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 inclinations Putin will eventually leave office, whether by death, illness, or—against all observable inclinations—stepping aside. — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026 People with gene variants that affect these inclinations may also be at a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers found. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 July 2026 Half the tracks skate along atop grooves informed by house and UK garage, reflecting Hebden’s clubbiest inclinations as well as his idiosyncratic sound design. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 July 2026 The solution Ciufolini proposed decades ago while working with physicist John Archibald Wheeler was to use two satellites in supplementary orbits, meaning with orbital inclinations that sum to 180 degrees. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026 Getty Choosing a college major has always been a big life decision, influenced by not only personal inclinations and talents, but also by starting salaries. — Courtney Connley-Hampton, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 There were inclinations to not fully believe in their capabilities against Argentina. — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 4 June 2026 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 Who knew that such daring would lead to a film that avoids these inclinations entirely, especially one that could have so easily leaned into controversial territory? — David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inclinations
  1. tendencies
  2. tilts
  3. inclines
  4. aptitudes
  5. tips
  6. slopes
  7. affinities
  8. bends
Noun
  • Using that information, the fitter identifies the head shape, hosel configuration and weighting that best complement the player's natural tendencies.
    — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The zoological and mythographic tendencies of Caillois are by no means out of place here.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of tendencies
Noun
  • In ’94 and ’95 with the Vikings, Moon had averaged seven tilts per season of at least 275 passing yards.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 1 June 2026
  • One which changes profoundly with the tilts and turn of the planet, yet its essence holds true.
    — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
Definition of tilts
Noun
  • Cows amble in the distance along the inclines of meadows; their grazing helps control invasive plants.
    — Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Bert McCarty, a Clemson University professor of turfgrass science and management, said golfers like how top courses are so different — from incorporating the ocean in places near beaches to relying on inclines in the mountains.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of inclines
Noun
  • For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 May 2026
  • This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.
    — GRACIA LIU-FARRER, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025
Definition of aptitudes
Noun
  • The State Bar also provides consumer information about avoiding legal fraud, including the unauthorized practice of law, and tips about avoiding immigration legal services fraud.
    — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Watch this video for some gas tank tips every driver should know.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tips
Noun
  • That's a big issue for a mid-altitude ski resort like the Adelboden-Lenk area, whose roughly 200 kilometers (125 miles) of slopes span an altitude between 1,000 and 2,300 meters (3,280 and 7,545 feet).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The playground would have some downward slopes built in to create multiple levels, with grassy hills surrounding at least two tiers of flooring designed for soft outdoor play.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of slopes
Noun
  • The commerce of these images and goods might seem to reflect our identities as a mirror image of our affinities.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Knowing their days of bloodline privilege are numbered, the German and the French aristocrat bond, their class affinities binding them more tightly than the uniforms that separate them.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
Definition of affinities
Noun
  • Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s signature boho bends were another defining example of Surf Spray’s cool-girl appeal.
    — Lauren Valenti, InStyle, 31 July 2026
  • Part of that attention is aimed at Burwell’s score, a masterpiece of electronic minimalism in which pitch bends and hard clashes create the dread and whiplash that make the film so tense.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of bends

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inclination
inclinations
incline
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Cite this Entry

“Inclinations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inclinations. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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