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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 People often seek help because someone else in their life has become frustrated with their tendency to hyperfixate. Angela Haupt, Time, 14 Apr. 2025 Even with Palace’s tendency to hold onto talent, their resolve will be tested. Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 The tendency of such devices to become obsolete disproportionately harms disabled people, Williams added. Russell Leung, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025 In keeping with its tendency to defer to leftwing activists at the risk of aggravating the broader public, the Biden administration did away with Trump’s executive orders governing water flow rates. The Editors, National Review, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tendency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tendency
Noun
  • The American Public Health Association says that as global average temperatures rise, these trends will continue and make allergies an increasing public health concern.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The Prohibition-era beverage has become even more of a juggernaut in recent years, and the IRL trend has led to a one-dimensional version.
    Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The unusual trajectory aligned the Falcon 9 with a perfectly polar orbit at an inclination of 90 degrees to the equator, bringing the four-person crew directly over the North or South Pole every 45 minutes.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
  • And grant funding has become less reliable as state governments face their own financial challenges while the Trump administration has shown little inclination to aid transit systems.
    Soumya Karlamangla, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Parents say private or homeschool is the only way to avoid conflict with religion After various teachers, administrators and parents raised concerns about the effectiveness and age-appropriateness of the books, the school system allowed students to be excused when they were read in class.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • There are many ways world leaders, businesses and consumers are grappling with the growing threat of a global trade war, but perhaps the easiest — and, for some, the most therapeutic — is to rely on dark humor.
    Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This rising tide has been spurred in large part by billionaires, particularly Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and, to a lesser extent, Richard Branson.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Arroyo memorializes ordinary buildings at risk of being swept up in the tide of gentrification in Miami through his paintings, while Simmons creates with concrete, fabric, acrylic, found objects and construction debris to form architectural sculptures and mixed media works.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Because some teams, roles and individuals may have natural aptitudes for different setups.
    Eric Hutto, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • And that team happens to desperately need a player like Luka, with not just great basketball aptitude but with presence and personality – star power!
    Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Evaluators touted his accuracy and toughness but were less bullish on his arm strength, athleticism and propensity to hold onto the ball too long.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Alec, too, has received plenty of unwelcome media coverage for his propensity to get into public scuffles.
    Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • So, one way to fix this is, fertilizing in spring with a citrus fertilizer, according to label directions.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Hopkins said fire department personnel also monitor the outside air and wind direction, knowing that homes downwind are likely to smell the gas and call the fire department with concerns.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 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 May. 2025.

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