preferences

noun

plural of preference
1
as in favorites
a person or thing that is preferred over others my preference is soul music

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in likings
positive regard for something a preference for cool weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in options
the power, right, or opportunity to choose he was promised his preference when the time came to repaint his bedroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in promotions
a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position a long-sought preference to the position of naval commander

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 preferences As a private citizen, he is entitled to exercise his political preferences. — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026 But those preferences are being weighed against some much bigger numbers. — Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 And limiting the ongoing growth in average EV battery capacity—driven by preferences for longer range and larger vehicles—could reduce demand by another 23 percent compared to the current trend. — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 The disconnect is seen across purchasing decisions, digital experiences, communication preferences and personalization as well as overall trust in technology such as AI. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 Likely voters who plan to vote in different ways have different vote preferences. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 Recent midterm polling shows young voters moving toward Democrats, and surveys of young men also indicate a Democratic advantage in congressional voting preferences. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 Similar to the Apple Watch, the HomeView also has a variety of different faces for displaying information based on the users’ preferences, like calendars, photos and weather data. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Without another person’s preferences to weigh, guests have more freedom over the timing, location and food choices that shape their meal. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferences
  1. favorites
  2. appetites
  3. options
  4. promotions
  5. likes
  6. choices
  7. advancements
Noun
  • Social feeds and Reddit threads are where most grocery dupe discoveries happen, with shoppers posting side by side comparisons and taste tests of store brands against national favorites.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Patriots took care of business last week against the New York Jets as heavy favorites.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of favorites
Noun
  • People are eating in and consuming less as rising costs squeeze Americans’ budgets and as GLP-1s shrink people’s appetites.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Even in cases in which the alliance could act collectively, such as through offensive cyber-operations, doing so requires consensus among 32 countries that have very different histories, domestic politics, and appetites for risk.
    — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of appetites
Noun
  • This is because both options provide access to capital based on the value of a business’s assets rather than relying on profitability or owner credit scores.
    — Andrew Coon, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • And for options that can please any giftee on your list, check out gourmet food calendars filled with decadent chocolates, loose-leaf teas, jams and jellies, and more.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of options
Noun
  • Since retaking the pitch in 2018-19, Belenenses has clawed its way back to relevance, winning five consecutive promotions.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • After years grinding on the independent circuit, competing across multiple promotions and even landing in WWE, the beloved wrestling stalwart found a home in All Elite Wrestling.
    — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of promotions
Noun
  • Trying one dupe a shopper likes often leads them to explore more store brand products across the store.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In garrulous moods, Daunt likes to impart advice for young travellers.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of likes
Noun
  • George initially selected about 100 images before the choices were narrowed to roughly a third for the exhibition.
    — Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • If Chrissie represents someone who opts into the ruling system, Paul’s character shows that there are choices even within this world’s oppressive parameters.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of choices
Noun
  • Roseberry repurposed the outdated materials of an early aughts IT department, while McQueen’s robotic arms were borrowed from a factory where they were used to paint cars — hardly super high-tech advancements threatening species-level extinction.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
  • There's reason to believe research on Jonathan and other animals could lead to advancements for people, Austad said.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of advancements

Browse Nearby Words

preference
preferences
preferment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preferences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferences. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of puissant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All