gentle

gentle

adjective

Definition of GENTLE

1

not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <use a gentle detergent on that delicate silk blouse> <her gentle ways>

Synonyms balmy, benign, bland, delicate, light, mellow, mild, nonabrasive, soft, soothing, tender

Related Words calm, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil; clement, compassionate, easy, lenient, merciful; buffering, cushioning, emollient, softening; sleek, slick, smooth

Near Antonyms exquisite, fierce, intense, powerful, severe; forceful, forcible, savage, violent; roughened, rugged, strong; abrading, irritating, roughening; grim, gruff, rude, stiff; heavy-handed, oppressive, pitiless, tyrannical (also tyrannic)

Antonyms abrasive, caustic, coarse, hard, harsh, rough, scathing, stern, ungentle

2

marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low <whisk the egg yolks in a double boiler set over a gentle heat>

Synonyms balmy, equable, genial, gentle, mild, moderate, soft, temperate

Related Words clear, cloudless, fair, rainless, sunny, sunshiny; calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, tranquil; delightful, fine, pleasant

Near Antonyms blustering, blustery, breezy, gusty, rough, squally, stormy, windy; misty, rainy, showery; bleak, cloudy, dismal, foggy, gloomy, gray (also grey), hazy, overcast, sunless; bitter, dirty, foul, nasty, raw

Antonyms harsh, inclement, intemperate, severe

3

of high birth, rank, or station <loved reading about the days when gentle lords and ladies danced at fancy balls>

Synonyms aristocratic, blue-blooded, genteel, gentle, grand, great, highborn, highbred, patrician, silk-stocking, upper-class, upper-crust, wellborn

Related Words high, lofty, superior; elevated, ennobled, exalted; gentlemanly, kingly, knightly, ladylike, lordly, princely, queenly, regal, royal; high-level, senior

Near Antonyms inferior, knavish; bastard, illegitimate; ordinary, plain; abased, degraded; junior, subordinate

Antonyms baseborn, common, humble, ignoble, low, lower-class, lowly, mean, nonaristocratic, plebeian, ungenteel

4

not loud in pitch or volume <the mother spoke in a gentle voice to her child>

Synonyms dull, gentle, low, quiet

Related Words dead, silent, still; calm, dreamy, hushed, peaceful, restful, serene, soothing, stilly, tranquil; muffled, muted, softened, toned (down)

Near Antonyms brazen, crashing, dinning, discordant, noisy, obstreperous, raucous, rip-roaring, vociferous; grating, harsh, shrill, squealing, strident; clarion, clear, trumpetlike

Antonyms blaring, blasting, booming, clamorous, clangorous, deafening, earsplitting, loud, overloud, piercing, plangent, resounding, ringing, roaring, sonorous, stentorian, thundering, thunderous