Synonyms for inclination
Most common
proclivity propensity leaning desire inclining incline tilt tendency
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Proclivity — A tendency
proclivity, propensity, leaning, desire, penchant, predilection, impulse, bent, predisposition, instinct, aptitude, preference, love, bias, affection, fondness, wish, partiality, appetite, proneness, pleasure, liking
4. Tendency
Definitions
- n. 1
A slant or slope.
The road up to the house had a steep inclination.
- n. 2
A tendency.
His inclination to drink escalated to alcoholism.
- n. 3
A physical tilt or bend.
The inclination of his head increased and he awoke with a start.
- n. 4
The angle of intersection of a reference plane.
Artillery must take account of a weapon's precise inclination.
Related words
- Word family
- incline inclinometer
Forms
- Plural
- inclinations → proclivities, propensities, leanings, desires…
Choose the right word
Inclination expresses simply a tendency, which may be good or bad, yielded to or overcome; as, an inclination to study; an inclination to drink.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- desire It is true that we desire to live in a small town.
- leaning Ziri was leaning his back on a tree, arms crossed.
- propensity He has a propensity of picking his nose in public.
- proclivity Your record indicates a proclivity for violence.
- direction The plane flew away in the direction of Hong Kong.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| inclination | steady | |
| desire | rising | |
| leaning | rising | |
| propensity | rising | |
| proclivity | rising | |
| direction | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- aim1
- 4 letters
- will1, love1, mind1, list1, wish1, fall1, bias2, lean1, bent1, tilt1
- 5 letters
- trend1, slope1, slant1
- 6 letters
- desire3, notion2, liking2
- 7 letters
- bearing2, leaning2, impulse2, incline2
- 8 letters
- pleasure2, tendency3, instinct2, appetite3, aptitude3, penchant2, fondness2
- 9 letters
- direction3, affection3, readiness3, steepness2, inclining, obliquity, proneness
- 10 letters
- preference3, propensity4, proclivity4, partiality5
- 11 letters
- disposition4
- 12 letters
- predilection4
- 14 letters
- predisposition5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (bias2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- inclination
- Español
- inclinación