as in influences
formal
to cause (someone) to be more likely to behave in a particular way or to be affected by a particular condition
Past experiences have predisposed her to distrust people. Researchers have identified a gene that may predispose some people to the disease.
Related Words
Relevance
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 predisposes
Ricks has a brain that predisposes him to violent behavior, according to a neuroscience researcher called by the defense as a witness.
—
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
The substance also damages airways and predisposes individuals to develop many chronic lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease.
—Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
The substance also damages airways and predisposes individuals to develop many chronic lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease.
—Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predisposes
Verb
-
For Lia Yildiz, a 25-year-old from Poland, Indiana, she was motivated to push back against the billionaire class that influences politicians' decision-making.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The time of year also influences gas prices, as demand for fuel rises during warmer months.—
Grace Manthey,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
She's arrested, but the charges are later dropped when Stacy (Michelle Pfeiffer) convinces the coworker not to move forward with the charges.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2026
-
This is when someone convinces your mobile carrier to transfer your phone number to their device.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
-
But then a mysterious Romany woman (Rebecca Ferguson) turns up, and persuades him to return to Birmingham, in order to bring his violent illegitimate son (Barry Keoghan) – who now runs his Peaky Blinders mob – to heel.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One that stood out to Everett Plummer, a manager in the oil division at the time and one of several staffers tasked with investigating the Boarman case, was McCoon 3, an injection well that disposes salty oil field wastewater deep below the earth.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
-
One that stood out to Everett Plummer, a manager in the oil division at the time and one of several staffers tasked with investigating the Boarman case, was McCoon 3, an injection well that disposes salty oil field wastewater deep below the earth.—
Nick Bowlin,
ProPublica,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It is rated to handle inclines up to 50% (27°) and is designed to tackle soft soil, mud, exposed roots and molehills without constant intervention.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The whole experience inclines the young awabi to neither homing nor roaming.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predisposes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predisposes. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
