1
as in ways
an established pattern of behavior
a tendency to drop things a tendency to make snap judgments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trends
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
we'll be seeing a tendency for skirt lengths to get shorter this coming season
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in inclinations
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
a youth with a natural tendency toward arts and crafts instead of sports
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 tendencies
The collaboration between certain MAGA influencers and animal-rights activists has drawn out the most confrontational tendencies within each camp.
—
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Steed said her mother was born around the time of the 1953 raid and grew up with anti-government and, in turn, anti-vaccine tendencies.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2025
In May, the 26-season DWTS vet took to TikTok to address some viewers' tendencies toward scrutiny and name-calling.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Fire is indeed a concern in homes maintained by people with hoarding tendencies.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Those tendencies reportedly emerged in his teens, per Don't Date Brandon.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The point is that nuance and clarity, especially in definitions for data collection, are important to understand tendencies and patterns.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Mars in Scorpio taught you how to confront burnout patterns and perfectionist tendencies.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 26 Oct. 2025
Darcy, who was Stelter’s colleague at CNN before co-founding the independent news outlet Status, lamented the recent tendencies of many large news organizations.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2025
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Steed said her mother was born around the time of the 1953 raid and grew up with anti-government and, in turn, anti-vaccine tendencies.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2025
In May, the 26-season DWTS vet took to TikTok to address some viewers' tendencies toward scrutiny and name-calling.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Fire is indeed a concern in homes maintained by people with hoarding tendencies.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Those tendencies reportedly emerged in his teens, per Don't Date Brandon.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The point is that nuance and clarity, especially in definitions for data collection, are important to understand tendencies and patterns.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Mars in Scorpio taught you how to confront burnout patterns and perfectionist tendencies.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 26 Oct. 2025
Darcy, who was Stelter’s colleague at CNN before co-founding the independent news outlet Status, lamented the recent tendencies of many large news organizations.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tendencies
Noun
-
Wellington, New Zealand AP — There are easier ways to cross an ocean, but few are as slick or stylish as the remora’s whale-surfing joyride.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Electric vehicles have accelerated the search for more efficient and affordable ways to power next-generation transport.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Yet the trends at home are not irreversible.—
Peter D. Feaver,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Both of those trends have been amplified during his second term, Meyler said.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Lin—whose early career at Zappos and mathematical inclinations molded him into an early backer of companies like Airbnb and DoorDash—has been at Sequoia since 2010.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
For costume designer Nicky Smith, helping Robinson and Kanin deliver on the show’s eccentric potential meant working against her natural inclinations.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The tides are high, resulting in cautious behavior.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The swell is expected to drop on Saturday, and the tides are expected to ease through the weekend.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
More money is apt to make homeschooling worse and far less tailored to the individual student and their interests and aptitudes by encouraging parents to substitute pricey group programs for the requisite effort of individualized instruction.—
Marie Sapirie,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Students are sorted into these houses based on their personalities and magical aptitudes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The California Highway Patrol also temporarily shut down State Route 330 in both directions to secure the scene.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Follow the box directions to make this on the stove or in the microwave.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Of course, Matthieu brings his own set of creative affinities, which are new and incredibly enriching, but not at the expense of existing relationships.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But these impulses are growing within the Democratic Party as well.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Catalina’s character is exceptionally well drawn, and the subtle, fantastic elements — unanswered phone calls, a sense of an unseen presence, intuitive impulses — lend the film a distinctive, poetic identity.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tendencies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tendencies. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share