aptitudes

noun

plural of aptitude
1
as in inclinations
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing bored teenagers with an aptitude for getting into trouble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in talents
a special and usually inborn ability has an aptitude for math

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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 aptitudes For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 May 2026 This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job. — Gracia Liu-Farrer, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025 More money is apt to make homeschooling worse and far less tailored to the individual student and their interests and aptitudes by encouraging parents to substitute pricey group programs for the requisite effort of individualized instruction. — Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 Students are sorted into these houses based on their personalities and magical aptitudes. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025 Creativity, insight, wisdom, and empathy—these aptitudes are wholly human and look to remain that way into the future. — IEEE Spectrum, 23 Nov. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aptitudes
  1. inclinations
  2. talents
  3. tendencies
  4. gifts
  5. affinities
  6. knacks
Noun
  • Putin will eventually leave office, whether by death, illness, or—against all observable inclinations—stepping aside.
    — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • People with gene variants that affect these inclinations may also be at a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers found.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of inclinations
Noun
  • Junior quarterback Aaron McCormack, who is the coach’s son and ran for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Justin Slaven, is among the teammates who quickly came to appreciate Harris’ talents.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Mystery Men Throw it back to the Y2K era with this 1999 comedy starring a plethora of the era’s brightest comedic talents, including Ben Stiller, Kel Mitchell, Janeane Garofolo, and Paul Reubens.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of talents
Noun
  • Wanda’s obsessive drive to succeed ignites her darker side and self-destructive tendencies that led to her drug addiction.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Your more shadowy tendencies are liable to pop out around this time, particularly the ones that stem from an insecure attachment style.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of tendencies
Noun
  • Focus and Blur A procession of gifts and drinks arrive at the reception.
    — Rebecca Suhrawardi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The morality police, which are often accused of extreme policies, recently announced a statewide ban in Sokoto on the use of DJs at events, as well as inappropriate haircuts, extravagant bridal gifts and playing music on public transport.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of gifts
Noun
  • As opposed to infantile regression, the oceanic feeling can also be understood as a means of recapturing a repressed sense of relation, connection, affinities.
    — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Marino also has a penchant for seeing affinities in the work of two artists who paths likely never crossed, as is the case with his two-person exhibition of Parsons and Accardi.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of affinities
Noun
  • Streamline open shelves and reduce the amount of decor, especially small knick-knacks.
    — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
  • During your decluttering spree, don’t forget to step into your closet to see what other knick-knacks can go.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of knacks

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Cite this Entry

“Aptitudes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aptitudes. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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