gentle

adjective gen·tle \ ˈjen-tᵊl \

Updated on: 19 May 2018

Definition of gentle

gentler play \ˈjent-lər, -tᵊl-ər\; gentlest play \ˈjent-ləst, -tᵊl-əst\

1 a : 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

2 a : 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.

—

gently

play \ˈjent-lē\ adverb

See gentle defined for English-language learners

See gentle defined for kids

Examples of gentle in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of gentle from the Web

Planting The root systems of new plants should be teased open to encourage deep rooting, but use your hands and be gentle; many young annuals have delicate root systems.

— adrian higgins, sacbee, "Container culture – these pots do lots | The Sacramento Bee," 11 May 2018
The show's gentle pacing and easy, introverted charm might encourage you to get your hands in the earth as well.

— chris barton, latimes.com, "Overrated/Underrated: Leon Bridges' 'Good Thing,' and let the fall of music festivals begin," 11 May 2018
Each one is covered in lemon peel and licorice root extracts as well as lactic and glycolic acids for a gentle, exfoliating peel.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "The 10 Best Products From Dermstore’s Secret Sale," 13 Apr. 2018
The key is in the pressure and counter pressure and the rhythmic coordination of movement, a slow, gentle rocking.

— lynn peters, Redbook, "Why Missionary Is the Best Sex Position of All Time," 18 Aug. 2017
The Wrigleyville Taco Bell, a mecca for late-night revelers and those who just really need a Cheesy Gordita Crunch, will not go gentle into that good night.

— shelbie lynn bostedt, RedEye Chicago, "Chicagoans hope to save Wrigleyville's beloved Taco Bell," 2 Aug. 2017
In another words, skip aggressive treatments for a little bit, and try exfoliating less (once a week as opposed to twice, every other week)—concentrating instead on gentle cleansing and moisturizing. 3.

— lauren valenti, Marie Claire, "5 Ways Your Skin Changes in Fall," 11 Sep. 2015
Apparently, these exertions had an effect, because the new album is both the gentlest and the most epic of Hopkins’s career.

— ronan farrow, The New Yorker, "An Electronic Soundtrack for Spiritual Awakening," 23 Apr. 2018
Over lunch the gentle and generous dynamic between Viswanathan and Cena emerges.

— jen yamato, latimes.com, "How 'Blockers' dad John Cena and his on-screen daughter Geraldine Viswanathan became this year's comedy breakouts," 30 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of gentle

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

gentle Synonyms

gentle

noun

Definition of gentle

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

Examples of gentle in a Sentence

the archbishop treated both the gentles and the commoners with respect and kindness

Recent Examples of gentle from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of gentle

Middle English gentil (usually plural), borrowed from Anglo-French, derivative of gentil "of aristocratic birth, ¹gentle"

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

gentle Synonyms

Synonyms

aristocrat, blue blood, gentleperson, noble, patrician;

Near Antonyms

commoner, pleb, plebeian, proletarian;

boor, fellah, peasant, peon;

Related Words

socialite, swell;

magnate, magnifico, mogul, nabob;

gentlefolk (also gentlefolks);

gentle

verb

Definition of gentle

gentled; gentling play \ˈjent-liŋ, ˈjen-tᵊl-iŋ\

transitive verb

1 : to raise from the commonalty : ennoble

2 a : 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

Examples of gentle in a Sentence

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