tendency
noun
ten·den·cy ˈten-dən(t)-sē 
plural tendencies
1
a
: a proneness to a particular kind of thought or action
b
: direction or approach toward a place, object, effect, or limit
2
a
: the purposeful trend of something written or said : aim
b
: deliberate but indirect advocacy
Synonyms
- aptness
- proneness
- propensity
- way
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The economy has shown a general tendency toward inflation. a tendency to drop things
Recent Examples on the Web There is a tendency toward hypersensitivity with this placement, turning them into victims of their own emotions. 
Meghan Rose, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2022 What rubs up against this oddly is a tendency to treat the 1940s as effectively the 2020s in many particulars. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 11 Aug. 2022 In conventional literary travelogues of Westerners moving Eastward — to India, China or Arabia, as examples — there is a tendency toward an earnest elevation, redemption and deepening of the expat’s soul through travel. Bilal Qureshi, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 Many insurtechs also have the tendency to focus only on D2C insurance. Dave Brune, Forbes, 8 June 2022 This speaks to the American tendency to focus deeply on the child, and less so on the postpartum birther post-conception. Emily Barasch, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2022 Regencycore is a tendency decorate homes and/or dress in the style of early 1800s-era England. Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, 24 Mar. 2022 Harvard researchers noted that people have a tendency to focus on completing smaller, more mundane tasks rather than larger ones. Adrienne So, Wired, 6 Dec. 2021 This tendency is a real thing that advertising researchers know. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 14 Aug. 2022 See More
Meghan Rose, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2022 What rubs up against this oddly is a tendency to treat the 1940s as effectively the 2020s in many particulars. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 11 Aug. 2022 In conventional literary travelogues of Westerners moving Eastward — to India, China or Arabia, as examples — there is a tendency toward an earnest elevation, redemption and deepening of the expat’s soul through travel. Bilal Qureshi, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 Many insurtechs also have the tendency to focus only on D2C insurance. Dave Brune, Forbes, 8 June 2022 This speaks to the American tendency to focus deeply on the child, and less so on the postpartum birther post-conception. Emily Barasch, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2022 Regencycore is a tendency decorate homes and/or dress in the style of early 1800s-era England. Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, 24 Mar. 2022 Harvard researchers noted that people have a tendency to focus on completing smaller, more mundane tasks rather than larger ones. Adrienne So, Wired, 6 Dec. 2021 This tendency is a real thing that advertising researchers know. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 14 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin tendentia, noun derivative of Latin tendent-, tendens, present participle of tendere "to extend outward, stretch, spread out, direct (one's course), aim (at a purpose)" (Medieval Latin, "to lead toward, move in a particular direction") — more at tender entry 3
First Known Use
1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Phrases Containing tendency
Kids Definition
tendency
noun
ten·den·cy ˈten-dən-sē
plural tendencies
1
: a leaning toward a particular kind of thought or action
Elizabeth had a tendency to worry about things like not having permission. Zilpha Keatley Snyder, The Egypt Game
Zilpha Keatley Snyder, The Egypt Game2
: a way of doing something that is becoming more common : trend
tendencies
noun
1
as in ways
an established pattern of behavior a tendency to drop things a tendency to make snap judgments Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ways
- propensities
- proclivities
- habits
- inclinations
- predispositions
- predilections
- leanings
- practices
- affinities
- penchants
- aptitudes
- partialities
- patterns
- dispositions
- bents
- customs
- idiosyncrasies
- peculiarities
- eccentricities
- mind-sets
- quirks
- routines
- singularities
- wonts
- practises
- turns
- tricks
- oddities
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indispositions
- dislikes
- disinclinations
2
as in trends
a prevailing or general movement or inclination we'll be seeing a tendency for skirt lengths to get shorter this coming season Synonyms & Similar Words
- trends
- tides
- directions
- leanings
- winds
- shifts
- currents
- habits
- runs
- drifts
- propensities
- curves
- tenors
- ways
- turns
- customs
- swings
- countercurrents
- undercurrents
- downsides
- turnabouts
- upsides
- counter-trends
- countertrends
- undertows
3
as in inclinations
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing a youth with a natural tendency toward arts and crafts instead of sports Synonyms & Similar Words
- inclinations
- aptitudes
- affinities
- impulses
- leanings
- proclivities
- affections
- predispositions
- predilections
- propensities
- dispositions
- biases
- talents
- appetites
- addictions
- preferences
- devices
- partialities
- penchants
- habitudes
- knacks
- bents
- prejudices
- gifts
- habits
- bones
- geniuses
- genii
- tastes
- turns
- likings
- patterns
- practices
- flairs
- likes
- favors
- faculties
- partisanships
- idiosyncrasies
- fancies
- peculiarities
- endowments
- eccentricities
- quirks
- customs
- specialities
- specialties
- conventions
- fortes
- singularities
- ways
- routines
- practises
- oddities
- tricks
- kinks
- wonts
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- allergies
- distastes
- dislikes
- aversions
- disinclinations
- detachments
- indifferences
- disfavors
- disrelishes
- objectivities
- neutralities
- impartialities
- apathies
- nonchalances
- insouciances