proclivity
noun
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Have you always had this leaning toward wanting to know about words and their etymologies? Maybe you even have a propensity to use the featured word several times in the course of the day—due, of course, not to a proclivity for pretentiousness, but because you simply have a penchant for using a rich vocabulary. And perhaps you have a predilection for using lots of synonyms, such as proclivity (from clivus, the Latin word for "slope"), referring to a tendency usually toward something bad; propensity, suggesting an often uncontrollable inclination; penchant, meaning an irresistible attraction; and predilection, which describes a strong liking derived from one's temperament.
Synonyms
Examples of proclivity in a Sentence
Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2024
But before that show, her work, with spiritualistic proclivities and feminine palettes, was not always taken seriously.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
In communicating with Beijing, Washington should underscore Russia’s proclivity for wreaking havoc in democracies that oppose its interests.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2019
Leary, a rookie sixth-round draft pick who had a proclivity for turning the ball over at Kentucky, has continued to demonstrate that trait during training camp.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proclivity 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proclivity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near proclivity
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“Proclivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proclivity. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.
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proclivity
noun
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