PREFERRING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

preferring 1 of 2

adjective

as in choosing

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

preferring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prefer

as in liking

to show partiality toward I generally prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in selecting

to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities most buyers of that vehicle have preferred the model with four-wheel drive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 preferring

Verb

Rota chose to live in Southern Italy, in Bari, preferring it to his native Milan and Rome, the country’s capital of cinema. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 At its most recent meeting in July, three committee members dissented from the decision, preferring to raise the target range by a quarter-point. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 More important issues, like preferring the windows open and a golf addiction make the cut. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The club opted against a lengthy pre-season trip to North America, Oceania, or East Asia, preferring a smaller-scale tour in which the squad swung back to the Carrington training ground after playing across a host of European cities. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Bateman has no need for bios, preferring to work off the script alone. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026 Kennedy Onassis rarely wore the rock in public, preferring to keep it in a bank vault for safekeeping. — Freya Drohan, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026 Teens often describe chatbot interactions as emotionally meaningful or supportive, sometimes even preferring chatbot conversations to talking with friends. — Megan Kelly, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 These dragonflies live near bodies of water, preferring those with calm currents, like ponds, wetlands, or slow-moving streams. — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferring

Verb

Germany has a different reason for liking the early dismissal.

— Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Those pairs would also align with Babcock’s liking for offensive-minded puck-movers on their strong side.

— Janson Duench, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of liking

Verb

By choosing a highly machinable material and bonding it, Flit achieves a frame that as light and structurally sound as titanium, but at a fraction of the production complexity – and cost.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
The clearest sign of the change came in 2024, when a study recorded Americans choosing cannabis over alcohol for daily consumption, marking the first time in history that cannabis has overtaken alcohol as the preferred daily substance.

— Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of choosing

Verb

Finally, regarding Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, his tone has skewed dovish in recent months, favoring a wait-and-see approach to the impact of the Middle East conflict.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
But overall the slate of projects has shifted toward heavily favoring superhero men while removing or declining superhero women.

— Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of favoring

Verb

For example, selecting a chair that encourages an upright posture can reduce pain and injury risk, especially when gamers couple ergonomics with an exercise program that centers on functional strength, mobility and stretching of the upper limbs.

— Erica D. Henn, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
The city will begin the process of selecting a shelter operator next year, Bontrager previously said during a community meeting.

— Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of selecting

Verb

While they’ve been spotted enjoying glitzy dinners and events in historic villas with friends in Saint-Tropez and Capri, really, the Clooneys have spent most of the summer at their home on Lake Como.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Meg Nazworth came to eat at Kafi BBQ after having Halal barbecue last year and enjoying various Middle Eastern and African cuisines.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of enjoying

Verb

Allergists recommend bypassing diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and instead, picking your favorite nonsedating antihistamine pill, like fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claritin) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), according to the World Allergy Organization.

— Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Now, the state is essentially picking winners, not rescuing big US companies that are deemed critical to the economy.

— Norah Rami, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of picking

Verb

For retailers and brands wanting to tap in, differentiation will rely on newness and innovation.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
The extension seems unlikely based on what McBride should want (and likely can get from another team) and New York wanting to keep as much flexibility as possible.

— James L. Edwards III, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of wanting

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preferred

preferring

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“Preferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferring. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of preferring

adjective

verb

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