Propensity, predilection and proclivity all have the meaning of tendency, so what's the difference? Are they interchangeable?
Learn English – Differences between “propensity”, “predilection” and “proclivity”
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Related Solutions
'Lover' implies a sexual relationship. 'Love' does not, at least not necessarily.
You could call your lover your love with no problems arising. But if your love is, say, your child, you wouldn't want to call your love your lover!
Splinter derives from splint, which is a strip or thin piece, a slender piece of wood.
The etymology of shatter shows it is based on scateren or scatter.
So splinter contains additional information about the form of the object(s) involved. Shatter doesn't address the shape.
splintered glass:
shattered glass
Best Answer
Predilection means tendency to favor, not just tendency:
Propensity and proclivity both just mean tendency:
So while propensity and proclivity are close synonyms, and interchangeable, predilection means something different, and should not be used as a synonym.
There is one major difference between propensity and proclivity, and that is popularity:
Proclivity to me sounds more scholarly than propensity, maybe just because not many people use it.