Penchant
mediumNeutral tonePEN-chunt
noun
Definition
a strong habitual liking or inclination
Memory hook
PENCHANT sounds like 'pen-chant': you keep chanting for your favorite PEN because you have a strong liking for it. A leaning, an inclination.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“He had a penchant for arriving fashionably late to every meeting.”
“Her penchant for bold colors was evident in every room of the house.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“He had a ______ for arriving fashionably late to every meeting.”
Show answer
penchant
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Penchant is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "inclination" or "predilection" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "aversion".
Related GRE Words
propensity
a natural inclination or tendency
predilection
a strong preference or liking for something
proclivity
a natural tendency or inclination, often toward something undesirable
boorish
rude, ill-mannered, and insensitive
bootlicker
A person who behaves obsequiously to gain favor; a sycophant
condone
to overlook, forgive, or tacitly approve of an offense
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