gift 1 of 2

Definition of giftnext

gift

2 of 2

verb

as in to bless
to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute gifted with an uncanny ability to persuade people to do things they ordinarily wouldn't

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun gift differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gift are aptitude, bent, faculty, genius, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When can aptitude be used instead of gift?

The words aptitude and gift can be used in similar contexts, but aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

How do bent and aptitude relate to one another, in the sense of gift?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

Where would faculty be a reasonable alternative to gift?

In some situations, the words faculty and gift are roughly equivalent. However, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

When could genius be used to replace gift?

The meanings of genius and gift largely overlap; however, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When would knack be a good substitute for gift?

Although the words knack and gift have much in common, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

In what contexts can talent take the place of gift?

The synonyms talent and gift are sometimes interchangeable, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

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 gift
Noun
There are upwards of 30 galleries in town, interspersed among the quintessential gift boutiques, fudge shops, and lobster shacks. Amy Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026 Homemade buttermilk biscuits are indeed a gift of love—and time. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Verb
Fisher had divorced Reynolds and gifted Taylor a 40-carat engagement bracelet instead of a ring. Jessica Booth, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026 Lima gifted her the latter two items and assembled all three trinkets in a line to hang from the original pin. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Both donations zeroed out the districts’ total lunch debt from the start of the 2025-2026 school year through April 30, 2026.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
  • Those donations developed into sponsorships, which turned into year-round partnerships with jockeys.
    Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • The three hundred players are identified during the preceding summer and fall, when team scouts scour the country to evaluate prospective college talent.
    Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • There aren’t many options for the Pistons to upgrade from someone his age, with his talent and frame.
    Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • This phenomenon is formally known as the photic sneeze reflex, or as an Autosomal Cholinergic Helio-Ophthalmologic Outburst — unofficially blessing it with the spectacular acronym ACHOO syndrome.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • My family is blessed to have this family in our lives.
    Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Warning in the ice At present, the precise cause of the landslide remains unconfirmed.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
  • The clandestine nature of Nafisi’s gatherings evokes an ever-present peril.
    The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Reid has a knack for killing opposing breakaways and retrieving loose pucks, which makes up for not being the most physical defenseman at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds.
    Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
  • One of Knudson-Freeman’s many knacks was research and development, according to Freeman, saying his mother always wanted the food chain’s menu to be craveable.
    Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • But on the flip side, some studies conclude that CODAs learn from playing interpreter at a young age to communicate better personally and professionally later in life, and may grow up endowed with special talents for conveying and reading facial expressions and gestures.
    Bob Brody, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
  • The principal donation will go towards endowing the Met’s long-standing internships for undergraduate and graduate students in perpetuity.
    News Desk, Artforum, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • While eating at the company cafe after the presentation, Otone and Kensuke meet a child version of a humanoid who’s been brought back to REbirth HQ for maintenance.
    Vulture, Vulture, 17 May 2026
  • In a presentation for young athletes — and for the pro teams and college athletic departments that might invite him to speak — Stripling’s firm uses his story of a baseball prospect that got a $900,000 up-front payment and spent the $500,000 after taxes on a red Lamborghini.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 May 2026
  • If the team stays bought in and the coach shows an early aptitude for resolving conflicts, change can be a good thing.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 4 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

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