predisposition

noun

as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing the young woman's predisposition to date men who are very much like her father

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 predisposition Risk factors for dementia include genetic predisposition, head trauma, chronic disease, and lifestyle. — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2026 Some people prefer consistency and have a natural predisposition to avoid change. — John Radman, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 My heart and arteries look healthy during an ultrasound exam, but other test results reveal a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026 In the main autopsy analysis, researchers accounted for factors tied to dementia risk, including age, education, genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s, race, and high blood pressure. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The result of random breeding is a population of dogs with a wide range of behavioral predispositions. — Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 Brook said genetic testing showed no predisposition for cancer and believed decades of exposure to carcinogens as a firefighter caused the disease. — Dawn White, CBS News, 17 June 2026 Because diet, exercise, metabolic disease and genetic predisposition all interact with these epigenetic pathways, hormone therapy alone cannot fully address the risk. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026 But a genetic predisposition toward efficient storage does not explain an epidemic. — Joshua Moen, STAT, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predisposition
  1. tendency
  2. inclination
  3. aptitude
  4. devices
  5. affinity
Noun
  • There is a tendency for gloom to descend when thinking about Europe’s economic and business prospects.
    — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Bonnell The enthusiast’s approach Bonnell’s team uses matters because electric motorcycles have an annoying tendency to make power delivery either spectacularly good or spectacularly stupid.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of tendency
Noun
  • The film’s procedural aspect ticks along just fine, holding the attention without subverting expectations, and carried by actors who, much like the detectives in this case, are ultra-capable professionals with no inclination to go rogue on us.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Collectively, that inclination could lead to bills soaring ever higher.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of inclination
Noun
  • This position — especially once assistant head coach Frank Smith arrived — requires immense mental aptitude.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • How could King draw with such aptitude and still struggle to talk?
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of aptitude
Noun
  • Instead, Cramer pointed to Cook's ability to sustain the iPhone's appeal and keep consumers coming back through successive generations of premium devices.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Infecting already compromised devices Research published Monday brings the threat into much clearer view.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of devices
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
  • Bellow felt an affinity with Kennedy’s combination of low-life high jinks, human frailty, and virtuoso style.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of affinity

Browse Nearby Words

predisposing
predisposition
predispositions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All