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benevolence

noun

bə-ˈnev-lən(t)s How to pronounce benevolence (audio)
Definition of benevolencenext
1
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance self-effacing as well as selfless, he refused all public acknowledgement of his many benevolences to the community

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in friendship
kindly concern, interest, or support her benevolence towards her employees was such that she actually let one live in her home temporarily

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tenderness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others an actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 benevolence These firms often present self-dealing as benevolence, playing to win in ways that erode trust and long-term resilience. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 That might appear to be pay-it-forward benevolence from Stankoven. — Sean Gentille, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Making maritime travel safer for people of all backgrounds and nationalities was another way to uphold this value of universal benevolence. — Amanda Moniz, The Conversation, 12 May 2026 Starlight), a member of the Seven who questions their benevolence. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for benevolence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benevolence
  1. kindness
  2. friendship
  3. tenderness
  4. service
  5. generosity
  6. beneficence
  7. mercy
  8. friendliness
Noun
  • Normandin and Parker remembered their daughter for her creativity, sense of humor and kindness.
    — Hannah Fingerhut, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • All Queen‘s Roger Taylor is saying on his latest solo album is to give peace a chance — and maybe kindness, too.
    — Gary Graff, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • The two wives soon strike up a tentative friendship as Ye-ji expresses interest in telling Ho-seok’s story — but the group dynamic grows increasingly complicated by their extreme class differences and subtly conflicting desires.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Another chapter digs into Ronson’s rocky friendship with the comedy writer Graham Linehan, whose involvement in the gender-critical movement led him to act out online in ways that Ronson reads as self-destructive.
    — Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of friendship
Noun
  • Its moribund eccentricities cannot be separated from the tenderness of its story because Rhys and co-writer and composer, Joss Holden-Rea, have taken the time to sculpt characters with interiority that feels invitational.
    — Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, the music can provide somewhere to put those feelings, a place where sadness, anger, desire, tenderness and joy can coexist without needing to be immediately resolved.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of tenderness
Noun
  • The ground level is dedicated to the living room, while the first floor houses bedroom collections, in addition to personalized design and consulting services, a materials library and a VIP room.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Western intelligence services estimate Russia is losing some 40,000 troops a month – a rate of roughly 340 casualties for every square kilometer.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of service
Noun
  • New Yorkers put their generosity and sense of community on display, helping fuel a long and difficult climb not just to rebuild, but to reckon with what had happened.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • It has been accumulated over generations through millions of acts of service and generosity.
    — Brian Peckrill, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of generosity
Noun
  • Recommitting to Belmont’s core — respect, beneficence and justice — keeps the clinical‑trials enterprise worthy of public confidence.
    — Stephanie Haridopolos, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026
  • In a European women’s football ecosystem that still relies predominantly on the beneficence of men’s football, Kang’s bullishness to put her money where her mouth is naturally entices.
    — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Definition of beneficence
Noun
  • Michael Douglas, in a letter to a federal judge who was considering sentencing his son Cameron on drug charges, pleaded for mercy in 2010.
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
  • As violence spills into every corner of their lives, loyalties snap, safety proves temporary, and the battle for power leaves no room for mercy.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of mercy
Noun
  • The ribbing was good-natured overall, but when describing the rivalry, the friendliness dissipated.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Overbearing friendliness might even be described as our national affect.
    — Jonathan A. Czin, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of friendliness

Browse Nearby Words

benefits
benevolence
benevolences
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Cite this Entry

“Benevolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolence. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on benevolence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about benevolence

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