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
The amounts of prejudice that are built up in those Kingdom Halls, unbelievable. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025 The case was dismissed with prejudice last week after a settlement was reached, according to court records. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Earlier this month, Singapore’s High Court found Law to have breached his fiduciary duties and prejudiced the interest of creditors while navigating his company through the financial challenges stemming from the COVID pandemic. Lionel Lim, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025 The Fed is prejudiced against vibrant growth. Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prejudice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prejudice
Noun
  • Despite admitting mistakes, Turness hit back at claims of deliberate bias.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Likewise, studies on shapes have been shown to bring about both joy and bias, depending on the emotions that stem from early developments in childhood.
    Daniel Fusch, Ascend Agency, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Good parenting can help protect kids from racism’s harmful effects, but what works in person might not work online.
    Alvin Thomas, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Cook’s broader economic research on inequality, innovation, and racism’s effect on invention brings policy relevance that might otherwise go overlooked.
    Kori Hale, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Washington, wary of straining its ties with New Delhi, turns a blind eye.
    MUHIB RAHMAN, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Dames’ intention is to turn the headquarters into a creative hub and point of convergence of different disciplines, driven by collaborations.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • White South Africans, whose roots can be traced to settlers arriving under Dutch and British colonial rule, dominated the country through a system of racial segregation known as apartheid from 1948 until its abolishment in the early 1990s.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • With each pot, cast iron skillet, and cooking utensil, Gilmore exemplified this longstanding tradition in Black life, negotiating her identity in America and resisting the ills of racial segregation that pervaded nearly every aspect of her community.
    Time, Time, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prejudice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prejudice. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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