prepossession

ˌprē-pə-ˈze-shən
Definition of prepossessionnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun prepossession contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of prepossession are bias, predilection, and prejudice. While all these words mean "an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something," prepossession suggests a fixed conception likely to preclude objective judgment of anything counter to it.

a prepossession against technology

When can bias be used instead of prepossession?

The meanings of bias and prepossession largely overlap; however, bias implies an unreasoned and unfair distortion of judgment in favor of or against a person or thing.

a strong bias toward the plaintiff

Where would predilection be a reasonable alternative to prepossession?

Although the words predilection and prepossession have much in common, predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience.

a predilection for travel

In what contexts can prejudice take the place of prepossession?

In some situations, the words prejudice and prepossession are roughly equivalent. However, prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance.

a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prepossession
Noun
  • There are books about quilts and Medieval tablescapes and cultural theories about taste and magazines and something on ikebana and a DVD of Whit Stillman’s Metropolitan.
    — David Michon, Curbed, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Christina Applegate has an unconfirmed theory about the symptoms that caused her to be misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
    — Deborah Day, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Charlie Barron has a habit of transforming curiosity into obsession.
    — Jill Newman, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2026
  • City streets and suburban shopping malls have been reconfigured in response to our collective obsession with appearance, health and performance.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The result depends on the assumption that nuclear reaction rates and neutron decay follow the same scaling as the expansion rate.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • However, the conversation has also attracted a wave of caution from health professionals, warning against drawing medical conclusions from skin-deep assumptions.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • There’s also evidence supporting some non-drug treatments for hot flashes, night sweats and sleep or mood problems, ACOG said.
    — Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The infrastructure addresses a problem that emerged as Codex accelerated software development.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Prepossession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prepossession. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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