predispose

verb

Definition of predisposenext
as in to influence
formal to cause (someone) to be more likely to behave in a particular way or to be affected by a particular condition Past experiences have predisposed her to distrust people. Researchers have identified a gene that may predispose some people to the disease.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word predispose different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of predispose are bias, dispose, and incline. While all these words mean "to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something," predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself.

does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?

When is it sensible to use bias instead of predispose?

The words bias and predispose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice.

the experience biased him against foreigners

When is dispose a more appropriate choice than predispose?

While the synonyms dispose and predispose are close in meaning, dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something.

her nature disposes her to trust others

Where would incline be a reasonable alternative to predispose?

While in some cases nearly identical to predispose, incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions.

I incline to agree

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 predispose China is grappling with dangerously high youth unemployment, local governments carrying crushing debt loads, a private sector having difficulty supplanting state enterprises and households predisposed to saving as opposed to consuming. —William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Jonathan Daniels / Unsplash View 3 Images View gallery - 3 images Researchers at the University of Cambridge have identified a bunch of genes linked to obesity in dogs – and found the very same ones in humans predisposed to putting on weight too. —New Atlas, 10 Mar. 2025 Greyhounds and Basset hounds are also more predisposed to trancing. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 Full of veterans and bright young faces alike, the cast is once again perfectly predisposed to their roles. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for predispose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predispose
  1. influence
  2. persuade
  3. convince
Verb
  • Not so long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, Alfonso Cuarón was unintentionally influencing the future of the Star Wars franchise.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Yet the case stands to influence legal challenges to the Liberation Day tariffs, too, because the President relied on the same mechanism for both the earlier and more recent tariff announcements, declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, of 1977.
    — Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of influence
Verb
  • Again, this is a case of humans using AI to persuade people to adopt their views rather than an indication that AI is extreme or prone to suggesting extreme ideas and behaviors.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Last week, Meta’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, was at the White House to try to persuade the administration to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against Meta.
    — Cecilia Kang, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of persuade
Verb
  • His play in Wilkes-Barre has only convinced them more that, at worst, Koivunen has a real opportunity to become a good middle-six winger at the NHL level.
    — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • While the software does issue a disclaimer before spitting out its design, seemingly to avoid trademark issues, some fair-use hawks are not convinced.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of convince

Browse Nearby Words

predilections
predispose
predisposed
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Cite this Entry

“Predispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predispose. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of predispose for Spanish Speakers

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