as in bias
the unfair practice of treating some people better than others
The favoritism of the boss led to many disgruntled employees. He accused the teacher of showing favoritism in assigning grades.
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Recent Examples of favoritism
Though some members of Congress have expressed concerns about Isaacman's relationship with SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, citing the potential for bias or favoritism, Isaacman's nomination has been favorably received by much of the space community.
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Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Dec. 2025
Netanyahu’s open favoritism toward Republicans has not only enabled him to undermine policies supported by a majority of Americans but also contributed to declining support for Israel among Democrats.
—Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2025
Signs of a dog's favoritism include following them around, wagging their tail, maintaining consistent eye contact, showing affection, and rubbing their face against them.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Is the pay bump a result of favoritism?
—Emily Nix, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for favoritism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for favoritism
Noun
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And there is also the power of confirmation bias.—
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Was there a regional bias at play?—
Noun
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The Supreme Court of New York subsequently ruled that the case be discontinued with prejudice, meaning that it cannot be filed again.—
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Research has shown that having contact with those outside our own group reduces prejudice and increases trust and the willingness to forgive, which is fundamental to our growth both individually and collectively.—
Noun
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The nepotism extended to the next generation with Tim McDonnell, John and Chris’ nephew, joining the front office in 2013 as a pro scout.—
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In a political environment where there’s a thirst to replace the establishment, being associated with a politician could backfire — and fuel accusations of nepotism.—
Noun
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Since state jobs are won through cronyism and bribery, livelihoods were also at stake.—
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But over time, they themselves have been overtaken by misconduct, cronyism, and excess, especially after the leading proxy advisory firms continually traded hands between a rotating cast of conflicted foreign buyers and private equity firms.—
Cite this Entry
“Favoritism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/favoritism. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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