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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective generous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of generous are bountiful, liberal, and munificent. While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

Where would bountiful be a reasonable alternative to generous?

The synonyms bountiful and generous are sometimes interchangeable, but bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

When might liberal be a better fit than generous?

In some situations, the words liberal and generous are roughly equivalent. However, liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

When is munificent a more appropriate choice than generous?

The words munificent and generous can be used in similar contexts, but munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

Examples of generous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While the supportive coil system adds a generous bounce to this bed, the softer foam layers above it require a bit more work to move around on. Ashley Zlatopolsky, Architectural Digest, 17 Oct. 2024 Nestled on a generous 0.5-acre lot, the property provides abundant outdoor space including a pool. Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024 Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Standard guest rooms are the largest in Beverly Hills, starting at a generous 537 square feet and ranging to residence-like suites spanning more than 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Tiffany Leigh, Travel + Leisure, 15 Oct. 2024 Giving attached screws a generous spray of hairspray acts as a secondary barrier that locks and secures screws for a tight, foolproof solution. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for generous 

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

Thesaurus Entries Near generous

Cite this Entry

“Generous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/generous. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on generous

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