as in obsessions
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned
the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 preoccupations
Stocks tumbled in February after the latest producer price index showed unexpectedly hot wholesale prices, adding sticky inflation to the list of investors’ recent preoccupations.
—
Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
This triggers a slippery slope toward apostasy — that is, de-prioritizing mindedness toward church vetted preoccupations.
—Cory Anderson, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026
This and other information about U2’s current projects and preoccupations is found in a 54-page revival of the group’s old fanzine, Propaganda, which is available digitally as well as in print in some record shops.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
That much of the internet saw Bad Bunny’s Grammys look as a harbinger for more violence is probably more of a projection of our own preoccupations and fears.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
The imagery of the song chimes with some of Bowie’s deepest spiritual preoccupations.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Protein preoccupations The protein obsession continued throughout 2025, spilling far beyond shakes and bars into everyday foods and drinks.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Only in some of its themes and preoccupations, and the fact that both have taken me years to write.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Still, Patino described a canyon between the preoccupations and paths of people like Bezos and Griffin and the people in attendance like himself.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
This triggers a slippery slope toward apostasy — that is, de-prioritizing mindedness toward church vetted preoccupations.
—Cory Anderson, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026
This and other information about U2’s current projects and preoccupations is found in a 54-page revival of the group’s old fanzine, Propaganda, which is available digitally as well as in print in some record shops.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
That much of the internet saw Bad Bunny’s Grammys look as a harbinger for more violence is probably more of a projection of our own preoccupations and fears.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
The imagery of the song chimes with some of Bowie’s deepest spiritual preoccupations.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Protein preoccupations The protein obsession continued throughout 2025, spilling far beyond shakes and bars into everyday foods and drinks.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Only in some of its themes and preoccupations, and the fact that both have taken me years to write.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Still, Patino described a canyon between the preoccupations and paths of people like Bezos and Griffin and the people in attendance like himself.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupations
obsessions
Noun
-
As the bustling capital of Japan, Tokyo is home to hundreds of museums, ranging from august institutions with endless catalogs of national treasures to niche collections of curious obsessions (Looking at you, Meguro Parasitological Museum).—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
-
For a man who did such fundamental research in surface chemistry and who won the Nobel Prize, there is something almost tragic about the scientific obsessions that took hold of him in his later years.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupations. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
