prejudice 1 of 2

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

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

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 prejudice
Noun
Anne’s tragic story teaches about hope, empathy, resilience and the struggle against prejudice and religious hatred. Angelique Alvarez Martinez, Mercury News, 30 July 2025 Judge Casey Fitch ordered the case dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be reinstated if the plaintiffs seek to revive it. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 July 2025
Verb
Marlowe Sommer found the prosecutor and Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies had concealed evidence from Baldwin’s legal team, which the judge said prejudiced the case against Baldwin. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025 Because the Attorney General has chosen to proceed in this way, Mr. Mangione’s Due Process rights have already been violated and the manner in which the Government has acted has prejudiced the grand jury pool and has corrupted the grand jury process. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prejudice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prejudice
Noun
  • Police said the officer could not see the occupant’s identity or race prior to approaching the car and denied that bias played a role in the interaction.
    Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • That has become a hot button issue, with both the left and the right side of the political aisle accusing the chatbot of bias.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The book made theorizing about genetic differences between the races acceptable among certain corners of the mainstream right, paving the way for scientific racism’s resurgence in the Trump era.
    Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
  • In his remarks, Biden praised Till-Mobley for her courage in ensuring the world would see racism's horrors in her son's maimed body.
    Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023
Verb
  • Blending wit with emotional depth, Foreign Tongue turns a rare medical anomaly into a surreal, genre-defying reflection on identity, perception, and cultural belonging.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Contrary to most preseason forecasts by oddsmakers and pundits who gave the Snakes a slight edge, the Padres have turned this year’s two-club race into a rout.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • All these simmering tensions converge in Denis’s unpredictable and intimate film, with which the French director returns to the subjects of colonialism and racial segregation so central to her unparalleled filmography.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
  • And the lack of affordable housing exacerbates racial and economic segregation, too.
    David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prejudice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prejudice. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prejudice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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