Psychologists attribute that social selectivity to a recognition that time is growing too short to waste it on people we don’t like.
Source: tatoeba (11175110)
Selectivity
Synonyms for "selectivity" (27 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (6)
Noun(5 words)
Adjective(1 words)
chemical affinity
Strong matches (8)
Noun(6 words)
Related words (13)
Noun(7 words)
more exclusivepredation preferencepreferencescreening capacitysignal discriminationspecificitytargeting precision
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: bandpass selectivity, binding selectivity, chemical affinity, choosiness, choosing.
- Sentence evidence is available for selectivity, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "selectivity".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "selectivity"
Keep "selectivity" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "selectivity" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "selectivity", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "selectivity" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesbinding affinitydietary behaviordiscriminationforaging behaviormeasurement accuracymolecular recognitionpropertyselection processsignal processingspecificity
More specific
11 entriesadmission selectivitydiet selectivitydrug selectivityenzyme selectivityfood type selectivityprey selectivityreceptor selectivityscreening selectivityspatial selectivityspectral selectivitytemporal selectivity
Collocations
6 entriesbinding selectivitydiet selectivitydrug selectivityhigh selectivitysignal selectivityspectral selectivity
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
[…] while music was known to have scientific qualities — harmony, Pythagorean proportional relationship, etc. — it was the musician who by his selectivity made these proportions beautiful, […]
Source: wiktionary
“We must stop conflating selectivity with excellence. We must stop correlating prestige with privilege,” he said.
Source: wiktionary
Proponents of selectivity herald its cost effectiveness; instead of resources being spread over a vast population, money or services can be used where they are most needed. This can help fill in the gaps between needy and non-needy groups. […] Critics of selectivity argue, however, that it may be more cost effective to provide social welfare benefits across the board rather than to spend time and money sorting out those who are "truly disadvantaged."
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "selectivity"?
Closest matches include bandpass selectivity, binding selectivity, chemical affinity, choosiness, choosing.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "selectivity"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.