penchant
noun
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What is the Difference Between penchant, leaning, propensity, And proclivity?
Like its synonyms leaning, propensity, and proclivity, penchant implies a strong instinct or liking for something. But these four words, while similar, are also distinguished by subtle differences. Leaning usually suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable ("a student with artistic leanings"), whereas propensity tends to imply a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination ("a propensity to offer advice"). Proclivity frequently suggests a strong, natural proneness to something objectionable or evil ("a proclivity for violence"). Penchant, a descendant of Latin pendere (meaning "to weigh"), typically implies a strongly marked taste in the person ("a penchant for jazz music") or an irresistible attraction in the object ("a penchant for taking risks").
Synonyms
- affection
- affinity
- aptitude
- bent
- bias
- bone
- devices
- disposition
- genius
- habitude
- impulse
- inclination
- leaning
- partiality
- predilection
- predisposition
- proclivity
- propensity
- tendency
- turn
Example Sentences
Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005 Whether manifested in feminine decor or in an approach to teaching that assumes a female penchant for cooperative, or "connected," learning, stereotypical notions of femininity often infect institutions for women and girls. Wendy Kaminer, Atlantic, April 1998 From both her father and mother she had inherited a penchant for art, literature, philosophy, and music. Already at eighteen she was dreaming of painting, singing, writing poetry, writing books, acting—anything and everything. Theodore Dreiser, The Titan, 1914 a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space Dave Skretta, ajc, 12 Sep. 2022 The simple top was a classic pick for Meghan, who is known to have a penchant for polished white button shirts, plain white tees, and other easy tops perfect for layering. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 23 Aug. 2022 An injury-riddled Atlanta roster has managed to tread water in this year's playoff race, and the club has a penchant for dashing FC Cincinnati hopes. Pat Brennan, The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2022 This is quite a departure for members of a generation previously known for its nationalistic penchant. New York Times, 24 May 2022 Mescal even became a style icon, of sorts, for his penchant for wearing short shorts. Louis Staples, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 May 2022 Known for her penchant for paying sale-topping prices at equine auctions, the 67-year-old Pope prefers to think of her horses in maternal rather than monetary terms. Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 3 May 2022 The interior spaces are completely reimagined by award-winning designer Raphael Navot, known for his penchant for raw materials and clean lines. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2022 But the developer later revealed another — to my mind, more fundamental — reason for his penchant for subterranean construction: L.A.’s Baseline Mansionization Ordinance. Adrian Chen, Curbed, 5 July 2021 See More Word History
French, from present participle of pencher to incline, from Vulgar Latin *pendicare, from Latin pendere to weigh
1672, in the meaning defined above
penchant
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- tendency
- aptitude
- inclination
- devices
- affinity
- knack
- proclivity
- predilection
- propensity
- affection
- predisposition
- leaning
- bent
- impulse
- bias
- disposition
- preference
- partiality
- talent
- addiction
- genius
- appetite
- flair
- bone
- turn
- gift
- habitude
- fondness
- prejudice
- like
- liking
- habit
- taste
- forte
- fancy
- partisanship
- favor
- endowment
- quirk
- speciality
- eccentricity
- specialty
- idiosyncrasy
- practice
- faculty
- one-sidedness
- peculiarity
- custom
- pattern
- routine
- oddity
- singularity
- convention
- trick
- kink
- wont
- practise
- way
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aversion
- distaste
- dislike
- disinclination
- allergy
- neutrality
- indifference
- disfavor
- objectivity
- disliking
- detachment
- impartiality
- disrelish
- averseness
- nonchalance
- apathy
- unconcern
- insouciance
- disinterestedness
Synonym Chooser
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.
The meanings of leaning and penchant largely overlap; however, leaning suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable.
The synonyms proclivity and penchant are sometimes interchangeable, but proclivity suggests a strong natural proneness usually to something objectionable or evil.
The words propensity and penchant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, propensity implies a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination.