1
as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
her natural inclination to help people in need
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
the inclination of the hill is gentle, so walking up it isn't too bad
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 inclination
But Iran has shown no inclination to abandon its leverage, and no further negotiations are scheduled.
—
Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026
The inclination is not to pay, according to Alisha Rayner, the city’s director of operations and communications.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Beijing has shown no such inclination.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
The format has its limitations, though — the most obvious for fans with an inclination to ship is the sheer inability to develop romantic relationships over the course of a season.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inclination
Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026
The inclination is not to pay, according to Alisha Rayner, the city’s director of operations and communications.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Beijing has shown no such inclination.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
The format has its limitations, though — the most obvious for fans with an inclination to ship is the sheer inability to develop romantic relationships over the course of a season.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inclination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inclination
Noun
-
There's generally a tendency for organizations to focus too much on measuring or tracking input or activity, as opposed to output.—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
His playoff history and tendency to let up weak goals do raise some red flags.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nick’s Restaurants is taking another ride through Orange County, this time with a Western tilt.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
The current maps yielded a 20 to 8 Republican tilt in 2024.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The sight took me by surprise because this species tends to hang out in the understory of dense forests, often on steep slopes.—
Kate Wong,
Scientific American,
1 May 2026
-
Felton Road is located in the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago and grows grapes in four vineyards planted on north-facing slopes comprised of glacial soils.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Learning about her aptitude for difficult conversations, a counselor directed her toward social work instead.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
-
Murray-Boyles separates himself with his defensive aptitude, though.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Between slick tiles and steep inclines, locals rely on comfortable, supportive shoes—usually sleek sneakers, sturdy flats, or low-profile sandals.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Others, though, like the Innsdale trail, offer a more breezy walk with some incline, showing off the sparkling blue Hollywood Reservoir on a sunny day (most days in Los Angeles).—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The program included a technology deep dive exploring the science behind modern IPL devices, a creator roundtable discussing personal journeys around beauty and self-confidence and hands-on demonstrations that allowed attendees to experience the devices directly.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 will see its debut in devices overseas from brands like Oppo, realme, and REDMI.—
Florence Ion,
PC Magazine,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
There have been other touch points, like the affinity some Task Force officers have for the Punisher logo, that crosses from the fictional into reality.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
Kubiak also has an affinity for bigger formations.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inclination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inclination. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
