Synonyms of preoccupation

preoccupation

noun

(ˌ)prē-ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-shən 

as in obsession

something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned

the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obsession
• problem
• fascination
• fixation
• fetish
• enthusiasm
• mania
• fetich
• thirst
• prepossession
• idée fixe
• longing
• monomania
• desire
• compulsion
• infatuation
• craving
• tendency
• trip
• appetite
• hunger
• yearning
• complex
• passion
• predilection
• urge
• idiosyncrasy
• proclivity
• quirk
• lust
• penchant
• predisposition
• hang-up
• propensity
• inclination
• yen
• itch
• pining
• bent
• hankering
• drive
• partiality
• disposition
• cacoëthes
• leaning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• disregard
• apathy
• nonchalance
• unconcern
• insouciance
• disinterestedness
• unconcernedness

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of preoccupation

Opposition forces have capitalized on the preoccupation of Assad's allies—Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah—with other regional conflicts. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Many exhibit the rich sense of atmosphere, chiaroscuro lighting, and preoccupation with the dark side of human nature that would become so prevalent in the 1940s. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2024

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry (2016) ‘Days Without End’ by Sebastian Barry $19 $26 now 27% off This novel deals with one of Irish literature’s enduring preoccupations: the search for a better life in America. —Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024

Surely this grafts the preoccupations of a later era onto her eighteenth-century life. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024