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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 How to Shift Your Schedule for Maximum Productivity The key insight from all this research isn't that everyone should wake up at 4 a.m. but that aligning your sleep schedule with your natural tendencies and professional demands matters most. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 DiCara was perhaps alluding to the national political climate, and the Trump administration’s tendency to target Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu due to policy disagreements on matters like immigration. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 5 May 2025 There might be an explanation behind this recent tendency, though: Barca players are exhausted, and some are injured. Pol Ballús, New York Times, 1 May 2025 Their nastiness and tendency to cross the line showed up a couple of hours earlier. Josh Yohe, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tendency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tendency
Noun
  • In a world of evolving design trends, modular furniture is more than just a fleeting moment.
    Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
  • In both Texas and New Mexico, most cases have occurred among those who are unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status, mirroring national trends.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Analysts also see an inclination among some officials to keep certain communications private, not just from spies but also from government recordkeeping.
    Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025
  • Conveniently dovetailing into some of the notions offered this weekend to Trump at Mar-a-Lago by Oscar-winner Voight and his team, Newsom’s pitch of a national tax incentive for big screen and small screen production is clearly aimed to appeal to Trump’s bigger-is-better inclinations.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • That should once again be a classic offensive showdown, a perfect way for NFL fans to wind down after eating lots of food.
    Seth Quinn, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • During these inspections, travelers may be questioned or their electronic devices looked through as a way to confirm their identity and reasons for being in the U.S.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • His replacement, Anthony Banda, failed to stem a turning tide.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
  • But the tide is changing, and according to Sturdivant-Drew, the hue is right on trend with the natural aesthetics that have been popular recently.
    Jessica Fields, Essence, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Judging by the untended blisters on his knuckles and palms, however, Enzo doesn’t show much aptitude for it — to the extent that his supervisor drives the boy home one day to speak with his parents, surprised to discover that Enzo lives in a posh home with ocean views and a private pool.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 May 2025
  • Hiring focuses on ability and aptitude, in companies that are focused on growth.
    Chris Westfall, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • Ars Video Their study looked at subjects' propensity to believe fake news by measuring actions, such as clicking on a link or liking, sharing, or commenting on posts.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2025
  • Given Trump’s propensity for pushing the boundaries of constitutional norms, his response was probably cover intended to allow his administration to ignore the ruling of the court.
    Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • These aneurysms tend to develop in areas where blood vessels branch off in two directions.
    Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025
  • Navigators calculate their position by keeping track of their starting point, direction, speed and time at sea.
    The Conversation, The Conversation, 14 May 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 22 May. 2025.

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