AFFINITY Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'affinity' differ from other similar words?

The words attraction and sympathy are common synonyms of affinity . While all three words mean "the relationship existing between things or persons that are naturally or involuntarily drawn together," affinity implies a susceptibility or predisposition on the part of the one drawn. // an affinity for mathematics

Q: When might 'attraction' be a better fit than 'affinity'?

While in some cases nearly identical to affinity , attraction implies the possession by one thing of a quality that pulls another to it. // felt an attraction to danger

Q: When would 'sympathy' be a good substitute for 'affinity'?

In some situations, the words sympathy and affinity are roughly equivalent. However, sympathy implies a reciprocal or natural relation between two things that are both susceptible to the same influence. // two minds in sympathy

affinity

noun

ə-ˈfi-nə-tē

Definition of affinity next

as in aptitude

a habitual attraction to some activity or thing always had an affinity for nurturing living things

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in kinship

the fact or state of having something in common a study showing an affinity between obesity and socioeconomic status

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun affinity differ from other similar words?

The words attraction and sympathy are common synonyms of affinity. While all three words mean "the relationship existing between things or persons that are naturally or involuntarily drawn together," affinity implies a susceptibility or predisposition on the part of the one drawn.

an affinity for mathematics

When might attraction be a better fit than affinity?

While in some cases nearly identical to affinity, attraction implies the possession by one thing of a quality that pulls another to it.

felt an attraction to danger

When would sympathy be a good substitute for affinity?

In some situations, the words sympathy and affinity are roughly equivalent. However, sympathy implies a reciprocal or natural relation between two things that are both susceptible to the same influence.

two minds in sympathy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of affinity The fashion choice has sparked countless jokes, questions and rumors over the years as fans, both casual and hardcore, tried to figure out why the Chiefs appear to be the only NFL team with an affinity for the turtleneck. —

Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025 From there, Hegseth deepened in his affinity for this much narrower Reformed ethical perspective championed by the CREC and the Association of Classical Christian Schools. —

Liam Adams, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025 Americans' nuanced attitudes toward birthright citizenship Trump won the presidency thanks in part to voters' affinity to Trump's more restrictionist views on immigration, which loomed pretty consistently as the second-most salient issue in the 2024 election after the economy. —

Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2025 United fans have long had an affinity for Argentine players, dating back to the treatment of David Beckham upon his return from the 1998 World Cup, drawn from an antipathy towards England’s national team among the club’s match-going support. —

Mark Critchley, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for affinity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affinity

Noun

In 1966, at the height of the Vietnam War, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara instituted Project 100,000, in which recruits whose aptitude had been determined to be too low to serve in the military would be admitted and sent to fight.

— Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
But the aptitude, not to mention attitude, starts with the teaching and tone set by a one-of-a-kind force.

— Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 2 Feb. 2025