as in tendencies
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space
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Recent Examples of penchants
From his travels, has Khoury noticed major differences in the pastry penchants of various countries and cultures?
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penchants
Noun
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There were no signs the victim had suicidal tendencies, according to police.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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While Heuermann could hold the key to previously-unknown details surrounding the inner workings of a serial killer’s mind, Burgess cautions the ability to work alongside the FBI could feed into any narcissistic tendencies that are frequently observed in the most heinous criminals.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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Samuel Alito’s inclinations have not been hard to discern lately.—
Peter S. Canellos,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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More money is apt to make homeschooling worse and far less tailored to the individual student and their interests and aptitudes by encouraging parents to substitute pricey group programs for the requisite effort of individualized instruction.—
Marie Sapirie,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Today, costly and time-consuming coachbuilding acts as a mirror for the owner’s personal style and affinities, all the while displaying the status of having formed such a close connection with a brand that you’re invited to commission something singular.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Penchants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penchants. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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