grace 1 of 2

1
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance in Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables, Jean Valjean's decision to go to jail for the man mistaken for him is a grace that goes beyond thanks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth as if taste were not enough, red wine has the added grace of being healthy for the heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grace

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun grace differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of grace are charity, clemency, leniency, and mercy. While all these words mean "a disposition to show kindness or compassion," grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions.

by the grace of God

When is charity a more appropriate choice than grace?

In some situations, the words charity and grace are roughly equivalent. However, charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others.

show a little charity for the less fortunate

When is it sensible to use clemency instead of grace?

While in some cases nearly identical to grace, clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing.

the judge refused to show clemency

In what contexts can leniency take the place of grace?

While the synonyms leniency and grace are close in meaning, leniency implies lack of severity in punishing.

criticized the courts for excessive leniency

When might mercy be a better fit than grace?

The words mercy and grace can be used in similar contexts, but mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

threw himself on the mercy of the court

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grace
Noun
The collection was designed with the grace of ballet in mind, continuing to build on Louboutin’s passion for dance, which has been a source of inspiration for him since his days as an intern at Les Folies Bergère in Paris. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025 Trump looks like Netanyahu blindsided him, Netanyahu is forced to apologize, and Qatar restores Israel to its lukewarm graces. Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
To boot, Princess Bride is graced with a kingdom full of witty and breezy lines. Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025 The guest role comes during a busy year for Banks, who graced the cover of ESSENCE’s March/April Beauty Issue earlier in 2025, reflecting on her decades-long influence in fashion and entertainment. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grace
Noun
  • Our small kindnesses to each other.
    Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The most vulnerable among us deserve the most respect, most compassion, and most kindness.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The pieces strike a balance between effortless cool and elegance.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Our Matte Black Metal Candle Warmer Lamp features a modern black shade with a gold-tone accent, adding elegance to any space.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Securing the Shield ensures the top seed for Philly and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs for a team that has quietly gone about a consistent season without grabbing much in the way of attention.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • For today’s leaders, this means approaching every critical business decision with a mindset that considers how AI can deliver a competitive advantage.
    Derya Matras, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The egg itself sits on a rock-crystal base, which is shaped like a block of melting ice and adorned with even more diamonds and platinum.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Stretching to the pointed edge of the property is a 62-foot-long rectangular infinity pool adorned with mosaic tiles in swirling shapes that mimic the greenish glow of bioluminescence.
    Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And, Ben carried out his instructions with precision and without mercy.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Notre Dame is at the mercy of the committee no matter what.
    David Ubben, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Autumn Perkins, who lives in Middletown, Ohio, visited a Starbucks location inside Kroger and run by Kroger to order the mint majesty with two honeys.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Photographers interested in capturing the majesty of the night sky should read our roundup of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Asteroids are larger rocks in space, but there's no official distinction.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • One crucial distinction, though, comes from how the question is phrased.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The brand unveiled its capsule with ready-to-wear talent Alessandro Enriquez, and the designer’s poppy prints decorated the entire showroom, from the walls to the furniture to the shoe boxes.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Sky News Australia has canceled a show, designed to platform controversial debate, after a guest voiced anti-Islam views while wearing a shirt decorated with bacon.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grace. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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