gentle

adjective

gen·tle | \ ˈjen-tᵊl

gentler\ ˈjent-lər

, -tᵊl-ər \; gentlest\ ˈjent-ləst

, -tᵊl-əst \

Definition of gentle

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : belonging to a family of high social station

b archaic : chivalrous

c : honorable, distinguished specifically : of or relating to a gentleman

d : kind, amiable —used especially in address as a complimentary epithet gentle reader

e : suited to a person of high social station the gentle art of sophisticated conversation

2a : tractable, docile a gentle horse

b : free from harshness, sternness, or violence used gentle persuasion

3 : soft, delicate the gentle touch of her hand

4 : moderate His doctor recommended gentle exercise.

gentle

noun

Definition of gentle (Entry 2 of 3)

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

gentle

verb

gentled; gentling\ ˈjent-liŋ

, ˈjen-tᵊl-iŋ \

Definition of gentle (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to raise from the commonalty : ennoble

2a : to make gentler

b : to make (an animal) tame and docile

c : mollify, placate gentled the raging king

d : to stroke soothingly : pet

intransitive verb

: to become gentle the wind gentled

Other Words from gentle Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about gentle

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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

These days, Madonna takes a gentler approach to workout style, typically biking in the city with a pair of oversize shades and sweats. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "Madonna’s Epic Workout Style Deserves a Round of Applause," 16 Aug. 2018 For my sensitive skin, a gentler approach like this is necessary. — Emily Rekstis, SELF, "I Tried Sugaring and I'll Never Get Waxed Again," 25 July 2018 The arrival of another of Bob's accomplices (Michael Shamus Wiles), who makes his partner look positively gentle, drives the proceedings into even more gruesome territory. — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Eat Me': Film Review," 5 July 2018 Rather than blasting the skin with grit, à la traditional dermabrasion, this gentler approach vacuums out pores while simultaneously pushing in potent actives, which moisturize, brighten, plump, and protect. — Jolene Edgar, Allure, "The HydraFacial Phenomenon: Why Everyone Is Obsessed With This In-Office Treatment," 21 May 2018 Smith can play with a percussive thrust or a gentle airy feel. — Courant Staff, courant.com, "Things To Do This Week," 9 July 2018 This gentle, tenacious, adamantine figure has been far too little known in the West—until now. — Cynthia Haven, WSJ, "Book Review: Shouldering the Century’s Burden," 25 Jan. 2019 On a surface level, Ford’s treatment was kinder and gentler than what Hill faced from senators in 1991. — Anna North, Vox, "The Republicans on the committee attempted to change the optics for this hearing, but don’t be fooled.," 27 Sep. 2018 Now even lighter, even more gentle in their embrace, these are benchmark-setting headphones. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Wireless headphones are improving faster than anything else in tech," 31 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Coconut milk gentles the green-chile heat in the thick, creamy sauce. — Providence Cicero, The Seattle Times, "Spread the word about the great South Indian flavors at Kathakali in Kirkland," 10 Aug. 2017 The dog, described as gassy but gentle, spent much of its time on stage plopped on its side. — Joy Johnston, ajc, "Mastiff named Martha crowned world's ugliest dog," 24 June 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In this six-week program, veterans have the opportunity to gentle wild mustangs. — Sheila Vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "The join up: When veterans and wild horses build trust with each other," 22 Feb. 2018 Fawcett said the mustangs can be gentled into outstanding pleasure riding horses. — Lynne Terry, OregonLive.com, "Oregon Sunday lottery: Pick 4, Lucky Lines numbers drawn," 7 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gentle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for gentle

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

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