preference

ˈpre-fərn(t)s
1
as in favorite
a person or thing that is preferred over others my preference is soul music

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun preference contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of preference are alternative, choice, election, option, and selection. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

When is it sensible to use alternative instead of preference?

The words alternative and preference can be used in similar contexts, but alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

In what contexts can choice take the place of preference?

The meanings of choice and preference largely overlap; however, choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

When is election a more appropriate choice than preference?

While in some cases nearly identical to preference, election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

When can option be used instead of preference?

Although the words option and preference have much in common, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

When would selection be a good substitute for preference?

The words selection and preference are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

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 preference The policy also led to abortions of female fetuses, abandonment and even infanticide due to the preference for sons, and the ratio between men and women eventually began to skew. David A. Andelman, CNN, 23 Jan. 2023 As in the Maverick case, the plaintiffs in Brackeen v. Haaland claim the preference is based on race, rather than the political sovereignty of tribal nations. Karina Brown, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Jan. 2023 The preference for remote work was especially salient for women of color, LGBT women, or women with disabilities. Bytristan Bove, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2023 Revelations include insights into the Italian’s early preference for painting on used canvases and the identification of late canvases all cut from the same bolt of cloth. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for preference
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preference
Noun
  • Ethan Hawke Hawke’s filmography is legendary, ranging from indie and arthouse favorites (Reality Bites; the Before trilogy) to mainstream hits (Dead Poets Society, Gattaca).
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2025
  • This affordable shower faucet set is a fan favorite.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Feel free to use your favorite peppers, and increase or decrease the heat according to your liking.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2025
  • All are eager to rearrange the party more to their ideological liking, though their views of how to fix what went wrong are often diametrically opposed.
    Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Buk Clinic Another leading option located in Istanbul, Buk Clinic provides patients with exceptional care through minimally invasive techniques.
    Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Almost everyone has had the experience of propping up their phone while cooking and trying to follow a recipe, so Apple designed recipe functionality that allows for users to search by ingredient, by length of time to complete the meal, simplicity, type of cuisine, and a slew of other options.
    Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • At the core of Heineken’s AI initiatives are employing predictive models addressing revenue management, optimization of promotions, consumer promotions in grocery stores, and business-to-business trade promotions.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
  • The brand is currently running a special promotion across its current sale section—use the code EXTRA at checkout to score an additional 50 percent off select items.
    Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Shows from the likes of Denmark’s Zentropa, Australia’s Wooden Horse and Israel’s Sipur will fight for a €50,000 ($53,000) development prize, selected by a jury headed up by President M-K Kennedy, Executive Managing Director of TV Series at Studiocanal in the UK.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Feb. 2025
  • And while the Canadians have traditionally held the upper hand in international competition, hockey’s grassroots growth in America over the past 20 years has yielded a crop of elite talent, the likes of which has never been seen before.
    Carol Schram, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Rounding the exterior details out is a choice of dark or body-colored 20-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Quinn Hughes, the choice to replace him, is not with Team USA due to some light chaos with Hughes’ NHL team, the Vancouver Canucks.
    Chris Branch, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.
    Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Martin has worked with five NFL teams and just finished his fourth season in Detroit as the director of scouting advancement.
    Pete Sampson, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Additionally, the appetite for Spanish content, especially from Atresmedia, remains high, and international audiences continue to embrace our productions.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Symptoms in cats include fever, low appetite, lethargy, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from eyes and nose, and difficulty breathing.
    Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Preference.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preference. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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