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as in trend
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

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word tendency different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of tendency are current, drift, tenor, and trend. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

In what contexts can current take the place of tendency?

Although the words current and tendency have much in common, current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When is it sensible to use drift instead of tendency?

In some situations, the words drift and tendency are roughly equivalent. However, drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities
got the drift of her argument

Where would tenor be a reasonable alternative to tendency?

The synonyms tenor and tendency are sometimes interchangeable, but tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

When can trend be used instead of tendency?

The words trend and tendency can be used in similar contexts, but trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

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 tendency There are other braid knots that hold well, too, just remember that knots like the clinch that work well with monofilament have a tendency to slip when tied with slick braid. Kristine Fischer, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2025 Starting from a zero base will guard against the tendency to default to old structures and concepts that might no longer reflect the United States’ vital interests and geopolitical context or the needs and preferences of the American people. Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 Lifestyle creep is the tendency to spend more money as your income increases — a habit many people fall into without realizing it. Talia Wexler, CNBC, 20 June 2025 Republicans argue these tactics reflect a tendency by the governor to prioritize optics over sustainable fiscal solutions. Elaine Mallon, The Washington Examiner, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tendency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tendency
Noun
  • While celebrities and influencers have boosted the trend, funny memes and TikTok clips catapulted Labubu into virality, turning the dolls into ultra-desirable collectibles, like a monstrous incarnation of Beanie Babies.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation on Friday banning students from using cellphones at school, marking the latest development in a trend that is growing nationally and worldwide.
    Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • And, swear to God, my inclination to be a doctor was that.
    Kimberly Dishongh, Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025
  • And Just Like That is out of a inclination to see Carrie continue to live her messy and fabulous life as a pretty egregiously out-of-touch Manhattan socialite.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • The trauma eventually seeped its way into Williamson’s writing.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 19 June 2025
  • Gender dysphoria and confusion arise at different points of life, manifest in what even activists consider a fluid spectrum of ways, and have been abandoned by detransitioners.
    The Editors, National Review, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • However, Schaeffer’s fiery response to Freeman’s strikeout clearly turned the tides in his dugout.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
  • While the rising tide of corporate sustainability is creating worldwide big wave patterns, JCK and the Kering Group are surfing those waves together.
    Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • The ‘lucky’ question Jeff Bezos always asked interviewees at Amazon Attitude has long been as important as aptitude at Amazon.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
  • Girard’s size, and the idea that Colorado is a small-ish team that needs more grit and defensive aptitude in the playoffs, also lead people back to him as a trade candidate.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • The marginal propensity to reuse, enabled by secure hyperscaler platforms and guided by FinOps practices, offers a blueprint for scaling AI economically across agencies.
    Sandeep Shilawat, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • The shooting was examined in a two-year investigation by this news organization on the propensity of police to use serious and deadly force on mentally ill and intoxicated people; Nguyen had a history of mental illness and was experiencing a psychiatric crisis when he was killed.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • At its narrowest point, the strait is about 21 miles wide, with two shipping lanes two miles wide in each direction.
    Isabel van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • This weekend will see the section of the Mass Pike between Exit 123 in Weston and Exit 125 in Newton reduced to a single lane in each direction for about 72 hours as crews replace the I-90 bridge over the MBTA Worcester Commuter Rail.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • However, instead of removing the minerals from the water, these devices make the minerals soluble in the water.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025
  • However, these incidents underscore the importance of regularly updating your devices to stay protected against evolving threats.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tendency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tendency. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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