1
as in proneness
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 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
3
as in inclination
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 tendency
The human tendency is to reciprocate in favor of those who have shown kindness.
—
Boris Kontsevoi, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Sia’s work has a tendency toward self-help-style inspiration, a quality Saturday Church does not need more of.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Chatbots can be persuasive, have a tendency to agree with users, and may offer guidance and companionship to kids who would ideally find support from peers or adults.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
Earhart was a complicated woman, highly skilled as a pilot yet with a tendency toward carelessness.
—ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tendency
Boris Kontsevoi, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Sia’s work has a tendency toward self-help-style inspiration, a quality Saturday Church does not need more of.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Chatbots can be persuasive, have a tendency to agree with users, and may offer guidance and companionship to kids who would ideally find support from peers or adults.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
Earhart was a complicated woman, highly skilled as a pilot yet with a tendency toward carelessness.
—ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tendency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tendency
Noun
-
Both Max’s debut LP, Heaven & Hell, and her sophomore album, Diamonds and Dancefloors, were pushed back for release because of leaks, and Max has addressed her music’s proneness to making its way online before release in the past.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Still, there were promising signs below the surface and team-wide trends that explain that downtick.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
As bold colors take a back seat, this simple neutral is steering paint trends in a more calm, timeless direction.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Redford also shared that despite his inclination to public service, his ambitions were not political.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
After launch, the craft was placed into a polar orbit roughly 230 to 236 miles (370 to 380 kilometers) in altitude at an inclination of roughly 97 degrees.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Though murder is the most severe metric, the deaths-only data approach entirely excludes acts of arson, assault, and vandalism, all typical tactics of leftist antifascist militants used to intimidate political opponents and pave the way for a revolution.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Sep. 2025
-
This has yet to be confirmed, but the way that the Cardinals' back was carted off the field pointed to things being very serious.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Far from thinning out, the crowds grew denser as the hours passed, borne toward the Piazza Maggiore, the main square of the city’s historic center, as if on a tide.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
-
North Carolina turned the tide with a 20-3 win over Charlotte and blew out Richmond 41-6 last week to reach 2-1 entering Saturday.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For young professionals, demonstrating an attitude and an aptitude for lifelong learning will distinguish them in a demanding workplace.—
Ulrik Juul Christensen,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The Chiefs have an aptitude problem.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tolbert is expected to have a key role given the Royals’ propensity to keep a high-level pinch runner on the roster.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
-
In games and in practice during his third Wild training camp, that propensity of going hard toward the puck may earn Haight a NHL roster spot next month.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The critical sequence rebuilt the Chiefs’ lead to 16-6 and kept the season from potentially teetering in an unfortunate direction during a particularly tumultuous moment.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Even as the Simmonses queued up, more people joined the long line growing in the direction of the Clinton Presidential Center.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tendency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tendency. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share