gift 1 of 2

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
Such is his gift: to straddle the line of comic tragedy, of elite art and systemic class inequity. Alexandra Bregman, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025 For example, Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang gave a $30 million gift to US Soccer last fall, earmarked for girls’ and women’s programs. Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 31 July 2025
Verb
At this point, nothing gifted, not even in the video room. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2025 On Saturday, July 12, Spanish painter Esther Moya González — who is known for live-painting musicians outside of their shows — was able to gift the superstar the piece of artwork and have a meet and greet with her. Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • The challenge has pivoted into a nationwide fundraiser for St. Jude Hospital, and the couple celebrated $4 million donations during their stay in Michigan.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
  • As of Sunday evening, the GoFundMe has taken off, raising more than $151,000 across 4,800 donations.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • The continuity will help, especially considering 2024 district champion Arlington Bowie lost a fair amount of offensive talent.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2025
  • When companies struggle to find reliable, emotionally mature talent, the answer isn’t just hiring differently.
    Elan Gepner-Dales, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • After all manner of hoop-jumping, though, the government finally blessed the alliance between Paramount Global and Skydance on July 23, and — barring another unexpected twist — the two will become one exactly one week from today (August 7).
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 31 July 2025
  • So we’re really blessed that our partners see the vision.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2025
Noun
  • That’s the hot state of play at present but the primary won’t take place until March.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025
  • At present, there is no available information on the containment or cause of the fire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • Brennan, a former DEA agent with a knack for reading between the lines, teamed up with local Detective Scott Apple.
    Christina Coulter, People.com, 19 July 2025
  • Alicia Silverstone’s Cher, a Beverly Hills high school student with a closet of riotous and costly mix-and-match outfits and a knack for negotiating higher grades without actually earning them, comes off as shallow and spoiled.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • In addition, the foundation endows the directorship of the Kent State School of Fashion.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 21 July 2025
  • Residences in Florida can’t approach the bragging rights endowed by co-ops in the Manhattan clouds.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • This elevates the dish, giving it both a unique and refined presentation.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Make your next movie night or presentation a smashing success with these Prime Day projector deals.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • This combination of process understanding and technical aptitude creates a powerful force for rapid, relevant application development.
    Ed Jennings, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • That his tantalizing talent was matched by a preternatural aptitude.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

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