gentle

1 of 3

adjective

gen·​tle ˈjen-tᵊl How to pronounce gentle (audio)
gentler ˈjent-lər How to pronounce gentle (audio)
-tᵊl-ər
; gentlest ˈjent-ləst How to pronounce gentle (audio)
-tᵊl-əst
1
a
: free from harshness, sternness, or violence
used gentle persuasion
b
: tractable, docile
a gentle horse
2
: soft, delicate
the gentle touch of her hand
3
: moderate
His doctor recommended gentle exercise.
4
a
: belonging to a family of high social station
b
: honorable, distinguished
specifically : of or relating to a gentleman
c
: kind, amiable
used especially in address as a complimentary epithet
gentle reader
d
: suited to a person of high social station
the gentle art of sophisticated conversation
e
archaic : chivalrous
gently adverb

gentle

2 of 3

noun

: a person of gentle (see gentle entry 1 sense 4a) birth or status

gentle

3 of 3

verb

gentled; gentling ˈjent-liŋ How to pronounce gentle (audio)
ˈjen-tᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: to make (an animal) tame and docile
b
: to make gentler
c
: mollify, placate
gentled the raging king
d
: to stroke soothingly : pet
2
: to raise from the commonalty : ennoble

intransitive verb

: to become gentle
the wind gentled

Examples of gentle in a Sentence

Adjective a dog that is gentle with children Your mother has a gentle manner. a gentle sense of humor I heard a gentle knock at the door. It's a delicate problem that requires gentle handling. The job requires a gentle touch. The cold snap was a gentle reminder that winter was coming. Noun the archbishop treated both the gentles and the commoners with respect and kindness Verb employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day soothingly gentled his cat's head as she was being treated by the vet
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Lactic and glycolic acids bring extra yet gentle exfoliating power to your routine, refining skin texture and stimulating collagen production. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Oct. 2024 However, retinoids are infamously irritating to some skin types—which is why a gentle iteration of the collagen-boosting ingredient is essential in a wrinkle-smoothing regime for sensitive skin. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
Since dry plane air can leave our skin feeling dull and dehydrated, applying a few gentle, moisturizing products can make a big difference. Kaitlyn McInnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2024 Thursday’s weather will be mostly sunny, with a gentle to moderate breeze expected, although there will be occasional gusts up to 23 mph. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024
Verb
From transformative serums to gentle yet effective cleansers, this list has something for everyone to add to their skincare routine. Jessica Copeland, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2024 The material doesn’t want sophisticated adults mucking about in it or, worse, gentling its hard edges for commercial consumption. Jesse Green, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gentle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gentle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English gentyl "of aristocratic birth, exhibiting ideal characteristics of the wellborn, of excellent quality, gracious, courteous, kind," borrowed from Anglo-French gentil, borrowed from Medieval Latin gentīlis "of oneʼs own house, of good family or breeding, native, of a non-Jewish nation or faith, not Christian, pagan," going back to Latin "of a Roman gens, of oneʼs own family or tribe, native," from gent-, gens "race, people, gens" + -īlis, suffix of affiliation

Noun

Middle English gentil (usually plural), borrowed from Anglo-French, derivative of gentil "of aristocratic birth, gentle entry 1"

Verb

Middle English gentylen, derivative of gentyl gentle entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1532, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of gentle was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near gentle

Cite this Entry

“Gentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

gentle

1 of 2 adjective
gen·​tle
ˈjent-ᵊl
gentler
ˈjent-lər,
-ᵊl-ər
; gentlest
ˈjent-ləst,
-ᵊl-əst
1
: belonging or suitable to a family of high social rank
2
a
: easily handled : docile
a gentle horse
b
: not harsh : mild
gentle soap
c
: not stern or rough
gentle words
3
: soft entry 1 sense 1, soothing
a gentle murmur
4
: moderate entry 1 sense 2a
gentle slopes
gentleness noun
gently
ˈjent-lē
adverb

gentle

2 of 2 verb
gentled; gentling
ˈjent-liŋ,
ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to make gentle or mild
2
: to make calmer : soothe

More from Merriam-Webster on gentle

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