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
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Recent Examples of tendencies
Americans of all political tendencies increasingly favor sweeping, disorienting political change.
—
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
With the Jax-sized hole in the cast, the narcissistic tendencies in the other men become more glaring, showing how covert mistreatment can slowly chip away at a relationship.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Psychologists have tried to communicate nuance; these terms are only meant to express tendencies, which fall along a spectrum and can change over time, or between relationships.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
Rácz has been interpreted as a foil to Vladimír Mečiar, a real-life politician who served as Slovakia’s prime minister between 1990 and 1998 and was heavily criticized for his autocratic tendencies, strongman persona, and ties to organized crime.
—Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Below, Culpo shares her must-pack comforts, her Type A travel tendencies, and why a good piece of luggage is the ultimate indulgence.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
There are still times Stokes reverts back to his worst tendencies on the basketball court.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The slimdown of staff continues a trend in the tech sector, which long had been known for its largesse and expansionist tendencies as many traditional businesses headed in the opposite direction.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
With the Jax-sized hole in the cast, the narcissistic tendencies in the other men become more glaring, showing how covert mistreatment can slowly chip away at a relationship.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Psychologists have tried to communicate nuance; these terms are only meant to express tendencies, which fall along a spectrum and can change over time, or between relationships.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
Rácz has been interpreted as a foil to Vladimír Mečiar, a real-life politician who served as Slovakia’s prime minister between 1990 and 1998 and was heavily criticized for his autocratic tendencies, strongman persona, and ties to organized crime.
—Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Below, Culpo shares her must-pack comforts, her Type A travel tendencies, and why a good piece of luggage is the ultimate indulgence.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
There are still times Stokes reverts back to his worst tendencies on the basketball court.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The slimdown of staff continues a trend in the tech sector, which long had been known for its largesse and expansionist tendencies as many traditional businesses headed in the opposite direction.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tendencies
Noun
-
There are ways of using social media as just a private photo album or a diary, but it is designed to be public and for content to spread beyond its context.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Subway has launched a new value menu with more than 15 entrees under $5, offering more protein-forward meals at a time when cost-conscious customers are craving ways to get the most bang for their buck.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Forest fires have prompted both humans and wildlife to move to new places, increasing the risk, said Roberto Debbag, vice president of the Latin American Society of Vaccinology, while tourism trends have also had an effect.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
-
The sister of King Charles III is rarely seduced by trends, fashions, or labels.—
Laura Scafati,
Vanity Fair,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Who knew that such daring would lead to a film that avoids these inclinations entirely, especially one that could have so easily leaned into controversial territory?—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Samuel Alito’s inclinations have not been hard to discern lately.—
Peter S. Canellos,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Like Pisces, this flower grows in water, representing the fish that swim amongst the tides.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
-
The tides had shifted, nearly stranding us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.—
GRACIA LIU-FARRER,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Staff were stationed throughout, giving runners directions, passing out water and cheering us on.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Regular service on the Tehran–Moscow route will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in both directions, IRNA reported, citing officials with Mahan Air.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its formal and ontological affinities with dysfunction, fragmentation, and violence would seem to render that debt proverbial to the point of cliché.—
Ara H. Merjian,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Today, costly and time-consuming coachbuilding acts as a mirror for the owner’s personal style and affinities, all the while displaying the status of having formed such a close connection with a brand that you’re invited to commission something singular.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
We’re constantly told that the internet highlights our most selfish, divided or angry impulses.—
Simon Rogers,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
-
Now working as a duo, the erstwhile bedroom-pop project embraces its gnarliest impulses on its third album, finding unexpected hope amid clouds of distortion and anxious lyrics.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tendencies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tendencies. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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