Synonyms of penchant

penchant

noun

ˈpen-chənt 

as in tendency

a habitual attraction to some activity or thing

a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tendency
• aptitude
• inclination
• devices
• affinity
• knack
• proclivity
• affection
• predilection
• propensity
• predisposition
• impulse
• bias
• disposition
• bent
• talent
• preference
• partiality
• addiction
• genius
• leaning
• bone
• appetite
• turn
• flair
• gift
• habitude
• prejudice
• fondness
• liking
• taste
• habit
• partisanship
• favor
• endowment
• like
• forte
• fancy
• speciality
• specialty
• faculty
• eccentricity
• practice
• quirk
• idiosyncrasy
• one-sidedness
• custom
• pattern
• peculiarity
• routine
• singularity
• convention
• trick
• wont
• oddity
• way
• kink

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aversion
• distaste
• dislike
• allergy
• disinclination
• neutrality
• disfavor
• objectivity
• detachment
• indifference
• impartiality
• disliking
• disrelish
• averseness
• nonchalance
• apathy
• unconcern
• disinterestedness
• insouciance

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun penchant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of penchant are leaning, proclivity, and propensity. While all these words mean "a strong instinct or liking for something," penchant implies a strongly marked taste in the person or an irresistible attraction in the object.

a penchant for taking risks

When might leaning be a better fit than penchant?

The meanings of leaning and penchant largely overlap; however, leaning suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable.

a student with artistic leanings

When would proclivity be a good substitute for penchant?

The synonyms proclivity and penchant are sometimes interchangeable, but proclivity suggests a strong natural proneness usually to something objectionable or evil.

a proclivity for violence

Where would propensity be a reasonable alternative to penchant?

The words propensity and penchant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, propensity implies a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination.

a propensity to offer advice

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of penchant

Their playoff success breeds confidence in a group with a penchant for executing in the biggest moments while their opponents have not. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

And yet, with so many big personalities in the series then, Johncock managed to carve out his own niche with his small-town roots and penchant for wearing flannel shirts and jeans. — CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Police officer Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg) was able to read other people's minds, while prisoner DL Hawkins (Leonard Roberts) developed a handy penchant for walking through walls. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The debut Lume Traveler ultimately branched out into an entire family of trailers that all have a penchant for switching names. — New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026

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