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

But Trump’s penchant for going off-script has sometimes taken the focus off cost-of-living issues and his administration’s plans for how to combat it. —Seung Min Kim, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026

Adam Barnett, a polished Miami penny-stock salesman with a penchant for beautiful women and expensive sneakers, spent weeks on trial accused of paying a fellow inmate to arrange the murder of a key witness and his ex-defense lawyer. —Sydney Pereira, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026

According to Direda, Pierre Haobsh had a penchant for making up grandiose stories to seek attention. —Natalie Morales, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

The series’ penultimate novel also serves up the requisite Regency Bad Dad (™) for Gareth and extra helpings of falling-in-love banter, which is saying something given Quinn’s penchant for quippy characters. —Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026

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