beneficent
adjective
be·nef·i·cent
bə-ˈne-fə-sənt 
1
: doing or producing good
a beneficent policy
especially
: performing acts of kindness and charity
a beneficent leader
2
: beneficial
beneficent bacteria
beneficently
adverb
Examples of beneficent in a Sentence
a humane and beneficent policy
a beneficent couple who are regular volunteers at a homeless shelter
Recent Examples on the Web
Plus, a lot of social policies that many Californians consider beneficent and broad-minded that, to put it mildly, others around the country consider much less so.
—
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025
American capitalists extolling the long-term beneficent effects of their trade should remember the history of U.S. capitalism in Soviet Russia.
—Reuel Marc Gerecht, Foreign Affairs, 13 July 2016
White male Christian authority could posture as gracious and beneficent as long as it was unquestioned.
—Rebecca Solnit
january 13, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2021
The culmination of Roosevelt’s beneficent framing of the canal’s construction came during the spectacular world’s fair, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, held in 1915 to celebrate the canal’s opening.
—Julie Greene / Made By History, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beneficent
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Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025
American capitalists extolling the long-term beneficent effects of their trade should remember the history of U.S. capitalism in Soviet Russia.
—Reuel Marc Gerecht, Foreign Affairs, 13 July 2016
White male Christian authority could posture as gracious and beneficent as long as it was unquestioned.
—Rebecca Solnit
january 13, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2021
The culmination of Roosevelt’s beneficent framing of the canal’s construction came during the spectacular world’s fair, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, held in 1915 to celebrate the canal’s opening.
—Julie Greene / Made By History, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beneficent
Cite this Entry
“Beneficent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beneficent. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beneficent
adjective
be·nef·i·cent
bə-ˈnef-ə-sənt
: doing or producing good
especially
: performing acts of kindness or charity
beneficently
adverb
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