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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
  • The rising cost of dinner and a movie reflects a wider trend: Besides recent inflation, a strong dollar and the preeminence of U.S. capital markets have pushed prices up across America over the past decade-plus.
    Greg McKenna, Fortune, 27 June 2025
  • Now, if the trend reporters are to be believed, jellies are back.
    Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The inclination of those operating from this skillset is to evaluate the interrelationships and interconnections within and between steps, processes, systems and people.
    Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Marseille’s artistic inclination is matched by an obsession with food which, typically, is very different from what appears on plates in the rest of France.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Oaktree, which is on the way to amassing one of the largest independent library catalogs in the industry with about 70,000 movies and episodes, will fold its growing media footprint into a new holding company called Radial Entertainment.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 July 2025
  • Make your own watch classes that include taking one home begin at about $2,000 and run all the way the over $19,000 for the tourbillion.
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 1 July 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
  • Connelly frequently downplayed her reputation and aptitude for knowing how to ask for large donations from important individuals.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • Those are two promising indicators of his aptitude for spacing the floor for his high-usage teammates.
    Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 28 May 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
  • These initiatives build on 10 Corso Como’s increasing focus on boosting its cultural programming, as part of the new direction under the vision of Tiziana Fausti.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
  • Art direction is led by Pawas Sawatchaiyamet (Monkey Man) and visual effects is headed by Lee Stringer (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, Star Wars: Clone Wars).
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 1 July 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 11 Jul. 2025.

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