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

These dragonflies live near bodies of water, preferring those with calm currents, like ponds, wetlands, or slow-moving streams. — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026

But Thatcher left the faith at around 12 — about the same time her father, a lawyer, and mother, a piano teacher, divorced — preferring to spend her Sundays on stage doing matinees. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026

That secret-weapon oud knows exactly the role to play in perfumer Francis Kurkdjian’s formula, preferring sophistication over exclamation. — Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2026

Three central bank presidents dissented, preferring to raise the target range by a quarter-point. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026

This dependency significantly reduces a business's value, as potential buyers view it as a major risk, preferring repeatable commercial systems over individual heroics. — Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Tomatoes have similar growing needs to jalapeños, preferring warm temperatures and rich soil. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 July 2026

The Safe Haven star has been open in the past about preferring life in the wilderness over Hollywood. — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

Aiyuk began veering away from the team’s rehabilitation protocol soon after the surgery, failing to communicate with the team — a recurrent theme between Aiyuk and the 49ers — and preferring to rehabilitate on his own. — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 27 July 2026