as in bias
the unfair practice of treating some people better than others
The favoritism of the boss led to many disgruntled employees. He accused the teacher of showing favoritism in assigning grades.
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Recent Examples of favoritism
Critics worry the close relationship leads to a quid pro quo and favoritism toward industry.
—
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 24 Feb. 2025
The group also protested what members called the state's favoritism toward Christians in allowing events inside.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2025
In the grand scheme of things, what’s a little favoritism toward your objects of desire?
—Samantha Allen, Them, 25 Mar. 2025
Excluding people from positions or forms of access, no matter their qualifications, to give those less qualified opportunities as a form of favoritism is wrong.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for favoritism
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 24 Feb. 2025
The group also protested what members called the state's favoritism toward Christians in allowing events inside.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2025
In the grand scheme of things, what’s a little favoritism toward your objects of desire?
—Samantha Allen, Them, 25 Mar. 2025
Excluding people from positions or forms of access, no matter their qualifications, to give those less qualified opportunities as a form of favoritism is wrong.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for favoritism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for favoritism
Noun
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Rights advocates have also raised concerns about Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias during the Israel-Gaza war.—
Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
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Tech corporations prioritize using our biases for their benefit, while dismissing the reinforcement of stereotypes as a cultural problem rather than a technological one.—
Sarah A. Bell,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In his ruling, the judge criticized the DOJ’s request to dismiss the case without prejudice, which would have allowed for future prosecution, CNBC reports.—
ESSENCE Editors,
Essence,
3 Apr. 2025
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Judge Dale Ho dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be revived.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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And though nepotism naturally invites questions about the competence of the person with access to a coveted situation simply through blood ties, the questions have changed over the course of the best stretch in Auburn men’s basketball history.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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To get the obvious out of the way, nepotism is, to borrow from Hartmann . . .—
Jon Allsop,
The New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This would reduce patronage and cronyism, which have plagued our city for decades.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2025
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Wu was asked about Flaherty’s quarter-million dollar payout through a severance agreement, and purported cronyism revealed by Commission records that show the agency’s Executive Director Henry Vitale had two sister-in-laws and a nephew on the payroll last year.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Favoritism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/favoritism. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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