trend 1 of 2

Definition of trendnext
1
as in tide
a prevailing or general movement or inclination according to the survey, there's a growing trend for companies to run their own day-care centers for the benefit of employees

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

trend

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to tend
to show a liking or proneness (for something) during the winter our school system trends toward canceling school at the drop of a hat—or at least a snowflake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the river trends east, then west again, forming an oxbow

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of trend are current, drift, tendency, and tenor. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

When can current be used instead of trend?

In some situations, the words current and trend are roughly equivalent. However, current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When is drift a more appropriate choice than trend?

The synonyms drift and trend are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When might tendency be a better fit than trend?

The words tendency and trend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

When is it sensible to use tenor instead of trend?

The meanings of tenor and trend largely overlap; however, tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

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 trend
Noun
Compared to similar trends, like soap nails, this combo creates a slightly richer base without crossing over into opaque territory. Grace McCarty, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2026 For anyone obsessed with the dad sneaker trend, these are for you. Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. Rin Velasco, The Providence Journal, 21 Feb. 2026 Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • But the tides and the waves keep coming, so no fix is permanent.
    James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Here, the gentle tide creeps back and forth as a soothing marker of the passing day.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • And while TikTok has fueled the vibration plate boom, Richardson urges a measured approach to the gadget craze.
    Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 20 Feb. 2026
  • This dainty top combines the polka dot craze with the sheer obsession.
    Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Its name honors Elba, a former owner known for tending the garden with care and devotion.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
  • These retaliatory campaigns tend to be violent and flashy.
    Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The two swivel chairs have curved backs that gently rock back and forth, along with plush seat and back cushions.
    Melanie Fincher, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Instead of allover stripes, expect to see razor-thin metallic stripes (like the barcode nail trend coming out of South Korea), curved bands that arc diagonally across a sheer base, or contrasting matte and gloss stripes layered in the same shade for a barely-there effect.
    Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Trump’s direction of the hospital ship to Greenland comes shortly after NATO began boosting its defense in the Arctic, largely conducting military drills.
    Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The publication’s top editors are jockeying for the editor-in-chief role, a powerful position at a magazine where the writers, rather than the business side, traditionally control the direction of the enterprise.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The latests forecasts show a new round of storm systems will increase rain chances across much of Northern California and the Central Valley in the coming days.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 9 Feb. 2026
  • These latests features are designed for enterprises who want to integrate their AI technology with either existing Salesforce data or even their own data.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Early state-level data — in California and Pennsylvania, for example — suggests thousands of households have also chosen to downgrade to bronze plans, researchers at the Urban Institute, a left-leaning think tank, said in an e-mail.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
  • The Republican primary for the right-leaning district, Colorado’s largest by geography, is June 30.
    John Aguilar, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Corruption scandals have brought down several people in Zelensky’s inner circle, including his former business partner Timur Mindich and his long-time right-hand man Andriy Yermak, leading some observers to question whether Zelensky had a tendency to over-rely on tainted allies.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Releasing that control can soften the tendency to internalize life’s unpredictability as a personal failure, Jacobsen says—and also weaken the power that anxiety in your 30s holds over you.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

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