predispose

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.

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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 According to traditional narrative logic, audiences should be predisposed to sympathize with this family, who are introduced first and seem like decent Iranian citizens (even if striking a dog doesn’t earn the patriarch any points). Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 May 2025 Trump was already predisposed toward crony capitalism. Ian Bremmer, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2025 For example, obesity can predispose to stress eating, and stress eating can have a higher impact on cortisol levels among people who have obesity.8 Pregnancy, Diet, and Cortisol Levels Cortisol levels during pregnancy affect both the pregnant person and the fetus. Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 7 May 2025 And are such premature returns predisposing them to Achilles injuries? Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for predispose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predispose
Verb
  • However, such studies highlight how profoundly human activity can influence the entire planet.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • The court's decision could impact the roughly 15 million people who carry a total of about $49 billion in medical debt on their credit reports, a burden that can influence whether lenders decide whether to extend loans like mortgages or auto loans to consumers.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Eventually, the victim is persuaded to contact an IT security representative, who, in fact, is part of the ransomware operation.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 26 July 2025
  • During an interview with The Standard, Ozzy admitted that even though he was intoxicated during the violent incident, that didn't persuade him to stop drinking.
    Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • The sustained interest has Crawford convinced that demand for cottage cheese isn’t just a passing craze.
    Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN Money, 26 July 2025
  • My 16-year-old daughter finally convinced me to try a heatless curling set, and honestly, it’s saved my hair.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 26 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Predispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predispose. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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