penchant
noun
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What is the Difference Between penchant, leaning, propensity, And proclivity?
Like its synonyms leaning, propensity, and proclivity, penchant implies a strong instinct or liking for something. But these four words, while similar, are also distinguished by subtle differences. Leaning usually suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable ("a student with artistic leanings"), whereas propensity tends to imply a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination ("a propensity to offer advice"). Proclivity frequently suggests a strong, natural proneness to something objectionable or evil ("a proclivity for violence"). Penchant, a descendant of Latin pendere (meaning "to weigh"), typically implies a strongly marked taste in the person ("a penchant for jazz music") or an irresistible attraction in the object ("a penchant for taking risks").
Examples of penchant in a Sentence
Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
Whether manifested in feminine decor or in an approach to teaching that assumes a female penchant for cooperative, or "connected," learning, stereotypical notions of femininity often infect institutions for women and girls.
—Wendy Kaminer, Atlantic, April 1998
From both her father and mother she had inherited a penchant for art, literature, philosophy, and music. Already at eighteen she was dreaming of painting, singing, writing poetry, writing books, acting—anything and everything.
—Theodore Dreiser, The Titan, 1914
a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space
Rhiannon Saegert, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
Among his electronic competitors was Thomas, a foppish, rail-thin twentysomething with a penchant for provocatively unbuttoned silk shirts, and who spoke nonchalantly about Gaussian functions, Faraday’s law of induction, and something called the hysteresis curve.
—Matthew Sherrill, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
The move into eyewear speaks to Figo’s ambition for his namesake fashion project aimed at men with a penchant for traditionalism looking for wardrobe-budling pieces — formal and classy but comfortable and versatile.
—Martino Carrera, WWD, 19 Feb. 2025
Tesla Owners Are Getting Creative Musk's public persona has transformed from eccentric billionaire genius to an internet provocateur with a penchant for aligning himself with conservative figures.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penchant
Cite this Entry
“Penchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penchant. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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penchant
noun
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