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.
Examples of proclivity in a Sentence
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
Seen through a different lens, though, the reorienting of America’s relationship with its imaginary twin is not about geopolitical maneuvering or the president’s personal proclivities.
—Eric Jason Martin Tanya Pérez Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Earlier this month, Macron wore a light blue coat with a matching midi dress, demonstrating her proclivity for the color.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 28 Feb. 2025
Perhaps slightly more explicit and definitely more feminist, but thoroughly goofy in its exploration of the proclivities of the title characters.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proclivity
Cite this Entry
“Proclivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proclivity. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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proclivity
noun
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