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
But over time, these tendencies have taken their toll.
—
Charles Trepany, USA Today, 14 May 2026
The movie only hints at the underlying social tendencies that a populist exploits.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
California’s dog bite statute creates strict liability for dog owners regardless of prior knowledge of the animal’s dangerous tendencies.
—Anton Lucanus
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
To do that, Carolina needs to play its style and know its opponents’ tendencies.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 7 May 2026
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
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
Charles Trepany, USA Today, 14 May 2026
The movie only hints at the underlying social tendencies that a populist exploits.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
California’s dog bite statute creates strict liability for dog owners regardless of prior knowledge of the animal’s dangerous tendencies.
—Anton Lucanus
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
To do that, Carolina needs to play its style and know its opponents’ tendencies.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 7 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tendencies
Noun
-
Parting ways with Morey was ultimately not an easy decision for the 76ers, but Philadelphia’s inability to take the next step in a constantly changing East played a significant role in the organization’s direction.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
How Magnesium Supplements Could Benefit Blood Pressure There are several potential ways magnesium may affect blood pressure.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
12 May 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
-
The final Cocteau Twins album is an underrated gem that hints at directions the band could have continued in.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
12 May 2026
-
Empty fields and croplands surround Denver International Airport in most directions.—
Mead Gruver,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
While tons of beauty professionals have ties, affinities, and contractual obligations with designer brands, many swear by drugstore or equally accessible products to get their clients star-worthy outcomes.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
11 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Writers who used to hide their masculinist impulses behind a pen name now write and say outrageous things under their real name.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
Amid the early-spring lightness of the filmmaking, Fukada values softly plainspoken earnestness of emotion, as his repressed, recessive characters learn to listen to their own impulses in the general stillness that surrounds them.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tendencies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tendencies. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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