Synonyms of prejudice

prejudice 1 of 2

noun

ˈpre-jə-dəs 

1

as in bias

an attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting especially without considering any other possibilities

her lifelong prejudice against doing "dirty" jobs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bias
• partisanship
• partiality
• tendency
• tendentiousness
• one-sidedness
• chauvinism
• ply
• favoritism
• parti pris
• nonobjectivity
• favor
• nepotism
• cronyism
• predisposition
• prejudgment
• inclination
• predilection
• proclivity
• penchant
• propensity
• preconception
• prepossession
• bent
• self-opinionatedness
• leaning
• self-partiality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• neutrality
• objectivity
• indifference
• impartiality
• detachment
• hate
• calm
• open-mindedness
• unbiasedness
• dislike
• distaste
• aversion
• dispassion
• scunner

2

as in racism

hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race

fought racial prejudice through the use of the court system

Synonyms & Similar Words

• racism
• segregation
• racialism
• bigotry
• intolerance
• apartheid
• Jim Crow
• narrowness
• race-baiting
• separatism
• narrow-mindedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• antidiscrimination
• antiracism
• assimilationism
• antisegregation

prejudice

2 of 2

verb

as in to bias

to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge

all the bad stories I had heard about the incoming CEO prejudiced me against him even before the first meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bias
• turn
• convince
• poison
• persuade
• influence
• predispose
• incline
• dispose
• prepossess
• suggest

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun prejudice contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of prejudice are bias, predilection, and prepossession. While all these words mean "an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something," prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance.

a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar

When would bias be a good substitute for prejudice?

The synonyms bias and prejudice are sometimes interchangeable, but bias implies an unreasoned and unfair distortion of judgment in favor of or against a person or thing.

a strong bias toward the plaintiff

When is predilection a more appropriate choice than prejudice?

The words predilection and prejudice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience.

a predilection for travel

In what contexts can prepossession take the place of prejudice?

The meanings of prepossession and prejudice largely overlap; however, prepossession suggests a fixed conception likely to preclude objective judgment of anything counter to it.

a prepossession against technology

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of prejudice

Noun

Russell requested that the case against Olivera be dismissed without prejudice. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026

Ford’s freedom or constraints, his prejudices or lacks, gauge his moment and ours. —Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026

Verb

In court, Kayumi’s lawyer, Michael Arthus, pointed to the extensive publicity surrounding the case and asked that prosecutors avoid saying anything that could prejudice potential jurors. —Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026

Kayumi’s lawyer, Michael Arthus, pointed in court to the extensive publicity surrounding the case and asked that prosecutors avoid saying anything that could prejudice potential jurors. —Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026