proclivity vs propensity

Question

Is there any difference between these two? (dictionaries appear to define them identically, but perhaps there is some unmentioned difference)

Clive · Accepted Answer

'proclivity' often suggests that the thing is bad in some way,

eg he has a proclivity towards eating deep-fried food.

Peek · Answer

What kind of occasion should i use "partiality" and "Proclivity"?

01) Her partiality to her Sister
02) His partiality to Blond.
03) Her partiality to Chocolate.

01) She is partial to her sister.
02) He is partial to Blond.
03) She is partial to Chocolate.

01) Her proclivity to her Sister. ( I think this one is wrong)
02) His proclivity for Blond
03) Her proclivity for Chocolate.

Clive · Answer

What kind of occasion should i use "partiality" and "Proclivity"?

No capital for 'sister'.
A blonde female is 'a blonde'.

If you are eg partial to chocolate, it means you like it.
The noun form is
eg I have a partiality to chocolate.
eg My partiality to chocolate is well-known.
These words usually describe feelings that are not very strong and not very important.
These are common words.

A 'proclivity' is a tendency or inclination.
It is usually expressed as a repeated action..
eg He has a proclivity for having blonde girl-friends.
It suggests a strong and often permanent characteristic of the person.
It is not a very common word.

Clive

Cynthia3754 · Answer

I did find in one of my dictionaries stating that proclivity seems to differentiated by being a natural inclination more than a selective one, where propensity seems to be an inclination to do something whether it is in a deliberate decision, a natural inclination or in a disposition just to behave in a certain way.  I do hope this has helped you.

proclivity vs propensity

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