Synonym Chooser

How does the noun aptitude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of aptitude are bent, faculty, genius, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

How are the words bent and aptitude related?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

When could faculty be used to replace aptitude?

In some situations, the words faculty and aptitude are roughly equivalent. However, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

When is it sensible to use genius instead of aptitude?

While in some cases nearly identical to aptitude, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When can gift be used instead of aptitude?

The words gift and aptitude can be used in similar contexts, but gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When would knack be a good substitute for aptitude?

The meanings of knack and aptitude largely overlap; however, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

When might talent be a better fit than aptitude?

The synonyms talent and aptitude are sometimes interchangeable, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

Examples 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 aptitude During the early Sixties, Jones also showed his aptitude for making indelible pop singles. Elias Leight, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024 Trump has never shown much of an aptitude for the nuances of crypto, but he’s welcomed the industry’s financial support. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 Paul Rudd was a wonderful choice for Ben Glenroy, a movie star who dabbled in franchise tentpoles but came alive due to Rudd’s comedic aptitude. Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024 The same was true in HandBrake, as well as Geekbench, which measures overall aptitude at daily productivity tasks. Brian Westover, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aptitude 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aptitude
Noun
  • Credit card rewards function as a tax on those without credit cards and those with credit cards but without the ability or inclination to keep up with the panoply of options.
    David G.W. Birch, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Hegseth himself has not shown any inclination toward a withdrawal.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In which case a highly successful career seems inevitable for this talent.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The performance felt like a full-circle experience, as the MMG CEO passed the torch to the next generation of talent.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Loss Aversion And The Endowment Effect Loss aversion refers to the tendency to feel the pain of losses more acutely than the pleasure of equivalent gains.
    Wayne Anderman, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
  • Between the rapid cycle of internet culture and the tendency to get caught up in our own feeds, even the most chronically online of us can miss a big moment or two.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • That was certainly the case on downfield throws, which Coker had a knack for coming down more often than most.
    Joseph Person, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The third-year man has always had a knack for finishing near the rim, hitting a ridiculously effective 81.5% of his shots within three feet this season, and struggling mostly everywhere else.
    Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In preparation for those changes, Maximum Protection is being updated on millions more devices as Samsung locks down more of its ecosystem and install base.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • What is the best way to protect your Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android devices from getting hacked?
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Miranda has become Disney’s go-to composer in the years since Hamilton, bringing his signature style of old-school musical theater mashed up with contemporary hip-hop flair.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Again, this case is designed to showcase the PC parts and the other flair.
    Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In the book, the trio discuss 24 works from the film collection at the Centre Pompidou that Mubi says will offer unique perspectives on the affinity between cinema and typography.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 Dec. 2024
  • The Ice Age mammals, which should not be confused with the larger woolly mammoths, seemed to have an had an affinity for Orange County, where this one — and about a third of the state’s total — have been found.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Halftime surprise During the break in action, the Magic surprised a local family with a variety of gifts, including a 2025 Kia Sorento X-Line vehicle, a 65-inch TV, $15,000, tickets to Disney and much more.
    Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
  • Holiday gift ideas and advice If your kid wants skin-care gifts for the holidays, here are some risks to consider.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near aptitude

Cite this Entry

“Aptitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aptitude. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on aptitude

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