Entry Word: blessing

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a prayer calling for divine care, protection, or favor <that rabbi also always ends the service with a short blessing>

Synonyms benediction, benison

Related Words Godspeed; appeal, entreaty, grace, invocation, orison, petition, plea, prayer, supplication; sanctification

Antonyms anathema, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction

2 something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing <finding money on the sidewalk just when he needed to buy new sneakers was an unexpected blessing>

Synonyms benefit, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall

Related Words bonus, extra, lagniappe; advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support; comfort, consolation, solace; delight, joy, pleasure

Near Antonyms hex, hoodoo, jinx; bother, irritant, nuisance, pest

Antonyms affliction, bane, curse, evil, plague, scourge

3 an acceptance of something as satisfactory <Mr. Roberts promptly gave his blessing to his daughterʼs choice of husband> — see approval 1
4 the act of making something holy through religious ritual <traditionally, worshippers kneel during the blessing of the communion wafers> — see consecration