preference

ˈpre-fərn(t)s
1
as in favorite
a person or thing that is preferred over others my preference is soul music

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun preference contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of preference are alternative, choice, election, option, and selection. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

When is it sensible to use alternative instead of preference?

The words alternative and preference can be used in similar contexts, but alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

In what contexts can choice take the place of preference?

The meanings of choice and preference largely overlap; however, choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

When is election a more appropriate choice than preference?

While in some cases nearly identical to preference, election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

When can option be used instead of preference?

Although the words option and preference have much in common, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

When would selection be a good substitute for preference?

The words selection and preference are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

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 preference One has silver hardware while the other has gold — versatile options depending on your metal preference. Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025 Here’s my Thursday piece with Tyreek Hill’s preference for next season, a candid coaching assessment of Kenneth Grant and more. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025 The process also follows Evers' preference for the commission to review the data before deciding what road work should be prioritized. Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Charlie must then try to overcome his friends' preference for dancing over acting, find the perfect tree and discover the true meaning of Christmas. Tanya Wildt, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preference
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preference
Noun
  • Among the best options is Winterberry (), whose bright red berries persist into winter and are a favorite of cardinals and robins.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Mayniel’s favorite choke enough song, coproduced with Casey MQ and another friend, French DJ Lucien Krampf, is the title track.
    Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Bought an apple pie for backup in case this dump cake was not to our liking.
    Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Add the bacon and cook until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crisped to your liking.
    Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For women with dense breasts, several options exist beyond standard mammography.
    Dr. Megha Gupta, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Those cuts have left some families who had been hoping to join trials of new treatments scrambling to find other options.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The companies had been at odds over the past week, with the programmer running ads and social media promotions calling attention to the operator’s Big Tech DNA.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Still, the flip-flop has become a defining silhouette of 2025, appearing in street style, front rows and even film promotion.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In June 2011, Baa Atoll in the Maldives became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve along with the likes of Komodo Island in Indonesia and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.
    Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Berrios’ comment on Kardashian’s TikTok has received nearly 9,000 likes — as well as the request from Kardashian to send her the donation link.
    Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Tubi, our top choice for free streaming, has a significantly wider selection of horror content.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The sandwich options vary by protein, with choices including Spam, bacon, ham and spicy pork.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For someone like Eli, then, projecting movie-star-like virility and vigor was an exercise in social advancement, in distancing himself from his babushka forebears’ grim reality.
    David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
  • They’re plugged into networks that carry influence and can accelerate advancement in business and career.
    Sarah Maokosy, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • While global data center appetite is strong, the pace and scale of these projects are straining traditional lenders, said the panelists.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The round would mark one of Europe’s largest recent AI financings and underscores investor appetite for next-generation visual models.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Preference.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preference. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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