Synonyms of preferring

preferring 1 of 2

adjective

as in choosing

Related Words

• choosing
• prone
• tending
• apt
• inclined
• minded
• willing
• liable
• disposed
• likely
• given
• predisposed

Dissimilar Words

• unwilling
• loath
• averse
• indisposed
• disinclined

preferring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prefer

1

as in liking

to show partiality toward

I generally prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla

Synonyms & Similar Words

• liking
• favoring
• enjoying
• choosing
• wanting
• picking
• leaning (toward or towards)
• going in for
• desiring
• relishing
• caring (for)
• selecting
• fancying
• appreciating
• adoring
• being partial to
• digging
• taking
• admiring
• naming
• culling
• craving
• coveting
• grooving (on)
• delighting (in)
• reveling (in)
• wishing (for)
• prejudicing
• valuing
• handpicking
• singling (out)
• biasing
• tending (to)
• hankering (for or after)
• cherishing
• cottoning (to)
• treasuring
• inclining (toward)
• prizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disliking
• refusing
• hating
• disfavoring
• abhorring
• rejecting
• detesting
• declining
• loathing
• discarding
• turning down
• misliking
• jettisoning
• abominating
• throwing away
• throwing out

2

as in selecting

to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities

most buyers of that vehicle have preferred the model with four-wheel drive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• choosing
• selecting
• picking
• taking
• electing
• naming
• designating
• culling
• tagging
• opting (for)
• handpicking
• cherry-picking
• singling (out)
• adopting
• accepting
• nominating
• embracing
• appointing
• tapping
• marking
• preselecting
• setting
• espousing
• fixing
• tabbing
• settling (on or upon)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refusing
• rejecting
• declining
• turning down
• disapproving
• repudiating
• discarding
• spurning
• throwing away
• throwing out
• negativing
• jettisoning

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of preferring

Verb

What’s more, many older adult don’t generally think of counseling as an option in the first place, research suggests – instead preferring informal sources of help over professional mental health services. — Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026

The first part of the process happens in a fight camp, with Rickards preferring to start work between eight and 12 weeks from a bout. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Trump rejected this approach, preferring to embrace the Democratic strategy of making the midterm election about him. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said some members of his caucus plan to skip Dallas, preferring to stay home and campaign for reelection, but many of them will make an appearance. — Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

The European Commission hit Google with a hefty 460 million euro ($543 million) fine in July for preferring its own services in searches for travel and shopping. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026

Singh remains modest about his efforts, preferring the spotlight be on the sweets. — Melissa May, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Vanhée often calls on artists, preferring to draw inspiration from IRL, cross-disciplinary exchange. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Our play slid off the personal details of Gloria, preferring to center her work. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026