saving grace

noun

: a redeeming quality or factor

Examples of saving grace in a Sentence

It's expensive, but the machine's saving grace is its ease of operation. One of her saving graces is a good sense of humor.
Recent Examples on the Web The film’s saving grace is Jones’ upsettingly gentle portrayal. Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024 So there wasn't a ton of time, which probably was my saving grace. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2023 Removing himself from all those conversations could be a saving grace. Dalton Ross and Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Oct. 2023 Water becomes a powerhouse when paired with microfiber cloths and our technique, lemon is a saving grace for gunky pans—and more! Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024 Drea de Matteo's OnlyFans account has become an unexpected saving grace. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 Wealth depends on whether market re-rates Tesla as a car stock Tesla’s only saving grace came in the form of Musk suggesting a low-cost $25,000 entry-level model would arrive in the second half of next year, even though investors have yet to see so much as an official design rendering. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2024 Of course, a crucial saving grace to crumbs and sticky fingers on the road is napkins or hand wipes. Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2024 Education can be a saving grace for aspiring Black and Latino homeowners, Henry said, a key factor that could help turn around the decline in home ownership rates. Rebecca San Juan, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saving grace was in 1798

Dictionary Entries Near saving grace

Cite this Entry

“Saving grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saving%20grace. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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