benevolence

noun

bə-ˈnev-lən(t)s How to pronounce benevolence (audio)
Definition of benevolencenext
1
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance self-effacing as well as selfless, he refused all public acknowledgement of his many benevolences to the community

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in friendship
kindly concern, interest, or support her benevolence towards her employees was such that she actually let one live in her home temporarily

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tenderness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others an actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 benevolence These firms often present self-dealing as benevolence, playing to win in ways that erode trust and long-term resilience. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 That might appear to be pay-it-forward benevolence from Stankoven. — Sean Gentille, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Making maritime travel safer for people of all backgrounds and nationalities was another way to uphold this value of universal benevolence. — Amanda Moniz, The Conversation, 12 May 2026 Starlight), a member of the Seven who questions their benevolence. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for benevolence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benevolence
  1. kindness
  2. friendship
  3. tenderness
  4. service
  5. generosity
  6. beneficence
  7. mercy
  8. friendliness
Noun
  • Lee, meanwhile, is magnificent in a role requiring similar kindness, only laced with loneliness and loss.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Amagda Pérez Amagda Pérez advocates for immigrants and farmworkers with kindness, respect and determination.
    — The Sacramento Bee staff, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • However, their love for music wins out, and the two develop a life-changing friendship.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In fact, when all is said and done, one of my favorite parts of this season was watching the friendship between Kat and Gen evolve.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of friendship
Noun
  • While the eye of the camera presents Cathy’s childhood as objective fact, Lee describes and then reframes his understanding of the past as an adult character in scenes Hoon Lee performs with astounding tenderness and pain.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Rage and tenderness are interwoven in pieces about mothers and daughters; the X’s with which Native leaders signed the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie; and the necessity and fragility of art.
    — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of tenderness
Noun
  • Van Wissen and Lupker hope to expand the service to such fashionable cities as London, New York, Milan and Los Angeles, and are eyeing emerging destinations like Turkey and Morocco, too.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The service Despite its intimate size, the service at Hotel 28 Myeongdong is thoroughly warm and attentive.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of service
Noun
  • Jewel-bright macarons and sweets set a tone of abundant generosity at check-in.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The Sun in your 8th House opposes Saturn in your 2nd, highlighting the difference between generosity and taking on more than feels sustainable.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of generosity
Noun
  • The anti-catalog exposed, after the fact of the Bicentennial, the grotesqueries of corporate beneficence and private boosters that had supplemented the government’s project.
    — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Recommitting to Belmont’s core — respect, beneficence and justice — keeps the clinical‑trials enterprise worthy of public confidence.
    — Stephanie Haridopolos, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026
Definition of beneficence
Noun
  • Flynn's parents were among several relatives who wrote to Pratt asking for mercy ahead of sentencing.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Such mercy wouldn’t apply if Adolf Hitler’s brutal Gestapo got hold of them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of mercy
Noun
  • In an act of something like willful, somewhat disturbing friendliness, or a desire not to have to deal with Leo the next time he’s locked out, Clive makes a copy of Leo’s key and installs a lock box by his door.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, continued to caution against overt friendliness.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of friendliness

Browse Nearby Words

benefits
benevolence
benevolences
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Benevolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolence. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on benevolence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about benevolence

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Luddite

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All