Synonyms of penchant

penchant

noun

ˈpen-chənt 

as in tendency

a habitual attraction to some activity or thing

a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tendency
• aptitude
• inclination
• devices
• affinity
• knack
• proclivity
• affection
• predilection
• propensity
• predisposition
• impulse
• bias
• disposition
• bent
• talent
• preference
• partiality
• addiction
• genius
• leaning
• bone
• appetite
• turn
• flair
• gift
• habitude
• prejudice
• fondness
• liking
• taste
• habit
• partisanship
• favor
• endowment
• like
• forte
• fancy
• speciality
• specialty
• faculty
• eccentricity
• practice
• quirk
• idiosyncrasy
• one-sidedness
• custom
• pattern
• peculiarity
• routine
• singularity
• convention
• trick
• wont
• oddity
• way
• kink

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aversion
• distaste
• dislike
• allergy
• disinclination
• neutrality
• disfavor
• objectivity
• detachment
• indifference
• impartiality
• disliking
• disrelish
• averseness
• nonchalance
• apathy
• unconcern
• disinterestedness
• insouciance

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun penchant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of penchant are leaning, proclivity, and propensity. While all these words mean "a strong instinct or liking for something," penchant implies a strongly marked taste in the person or an irresistible attraction in the object.

a penchant for taking risks

When might leaning be a better fit than penchant?

The meanings of leaning and penchant largely overlap; however, leaning suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable.

a student with artistic leanings

When would proclivity be a good substitute for penchant?

The synonyms proclivity and penchant are sometimes interchangeable, but proclivity suggests a strong natural proneness usually to something objectionable or evil.

a proclivity for violence

Where would propensity be a reasonable alternative to penchant?

The words propensity and penchant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, propensity implies a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination.

a propensity to offer advice

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of penchant

While Palo Alto's penchant for M & A sometimes draws the market's ire , Arora's track record is rather excellent, including the performance of CyberArk in identity security and Chronosphere in observability. — Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026

With his snug corset and unsubtle make-up and minuscule shorts to which are fastened fishnet stockings, Curry’s kooky scientist with a penchant for brewing male lovers in his lab is one of pop-culture’s unlikely icons. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Marino also has a penchant for seeing affinities in the work of two artists who paths likely never crossed, as is the case with his two-person exhibition of Parsons and Accardi. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026

But her penchant for reckoning with the pain of the American underclass meant some of her songs touched on stories that contemporary country radio was reluctant to promote. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

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