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 Meanwhile, the electorate’s broad inclinations were plainly if not precisely depicted. — W Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026 In 1860, Muybridge was thrown from a carriage, resulting in a head injury that radically changed his personality and possibly heightened his artistic inclinations. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 And a lot of the time, people who have these kinds of inclinations towards children are people who were children who were abused themselves. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026 The trustees feared that if something happened to him, his heir apparent, Robert Kahn, would replace him, and it was known that Kahn had Zionistic inclinations. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026 Hailey detailed their son’s sporty inclinations while appearing on the Therapuss podcast in February 2026. — Emma Banks, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inclinations
  1. tendencies
  2. tilts
  3. inclines
  4. aptitudes
  5. tips
  6. slopes
  7. affinities
  8. bends
Noun
  • The questionnaires typically ask about overall personality tendencies, and so cover a very long time period.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026
  • From Fulton Market to Lincoln Park to Woodlawn, these six new projects — now in progress or under construction — show some new tendencies in the Chicago tall building.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of tendencies
Noun
  • Slight shifts or tilts — even on the scale of just a few nanometers — can change the pattern of light.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Sanders’ record over his last 16 tilts against Power 4 foes is … 3-13.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tilts
Noun
  • There are even conveyor belts to ferry folks up steep inclines – which also makes some of China's most beautiful views easier to reach for those less physically able.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The hiking area is extremely dangerous and known for steep inclines, loose gravel and falling rocks, according to the Italian Alpine Rescue unit, which told CNN that more than 80 people died in the Dolomites in 2026 so far.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 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 teen was about to quit the factory, but on his last day, the tips of his middle and ring fingers of his right hand were sliced off in a piece of machinery.
    — Katherine Turman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Since then, investigators have examined more than 20,000 tips and hundreds of pieces of evidence.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of tips
Noun
  • Evenings were spent listening to presentations by staff, such as an introduction to Dene beadwork and regalia; spotting wildlife including grizzly bears, moose, and caribou, then watching the setting sun light up the slopes of mighty Denali.
    — Karen Gardiner, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Depressions, areas below slopes, and land beside streams and floodplains are more likely to contain wetland soils.
    — Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of slopes
Noun
  • Beyond Carrington and Vicuña’s stylistic affinities, Lehmann and Norris pointed out how the reception of the artists’ work has changed over the decades and that both have only been canonized relatively recently.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • With its affinities for isolation and, at times, imposing scale, Land art conjures archaeology and the geological sublime—vast expanses of space and time.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of affinities
Noun
  • Adaptive cruise control also gains Curve Speed Control, which adjusts its operation for bends, and Overtake Assist to help when passing slower traffic.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Achieve Kelly Rowland’s look by adding bends to your hair with a flatiron and setting it with hairspray.
    — Casey Clark, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of bends

Browse Nearby Words

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 12 Nov. 2026.

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