prepossession

ˌprē-pə-ˈze-shən

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun prepossession contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of prepossession are bias, predilection, and prejudice. While all these words mean "an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something," prepossession suggests a fixed conception likely to preclude objective judgment of anything counter to it.

a prepossession against technology

When can bias be used instead of prepossession?

The meanings of bias and prepossession largely overlap; however, bias implies an unreasoned and unfair distortion of judgment in favor of or against a person or thing.

a strong bias toward the plaintiff

Where would predilection be a reasonable alternative to prepossession?

Although the words predilection and prepossession have much in common, predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience.

a predilection for travel

In what contexts can prejudice take the place of prepossession?

In some situations, the words prejudice and prepossession are roughly equivalent. However, prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance.

a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prepossession
Noun
  • Years earlier, Leonardo had performed his own study of proportions, based on the theories of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.
    Steven Strogatz, New York Times, 16 June 2025
  • The Distributed Responsibility Challenge These divergent approaches reflect different theories of technological governance.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • The senate’s habitual obsession with women as a threat (to conquest, power, imperial security, male dignity) cannot be overstated.
    Literary Hub June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
  • Melissa Benoist stars as Nicole, whose romantic relationship with Andrew (Miles Teller) is fractured because of Andrew’s obsession with drumming in writer-director Damien Chazelle’s psychological drama Whiplash.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • Those pages are a garbled mess, and Thomas spends much of them starting from the assumption that his conclusions are true.
    Ian Millhiser, Vox, 27 June 2025
  • However, that was based on the assumption that the district would receive $300 million in additional funding from the state or the city, which hasn’t materialized.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Prepossession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prepossession. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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