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 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 But Illinois couldn’t take advantage of the Huskies’ benevolence. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 Born into a family with a heritage of church-going, and benevolence, Amy discovered the possibility of a vibrant relationship with Jesus through the hippie days of the Belmont Church in the 1970s…and sang about it. — Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Feb. 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
  • Pannakara’s discourses on mindfulness and kindness in churchyards, town squares and in front of the Lincoln Memorial drew large, diverse crowds.
    — Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 17 July 2026
  • Guitars take the place of shovels, as Henry now repays Carlos’ kindness by helping to save the land that Carlos assumes is ravaged.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • This includes Martin and Fransway defending their relationship spark, Hubbard being accused of playing the single mom card and Olivera and Hubbard confronting each other over their troubled friendship.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 13 July 2026
  • Ferlinghetti’s friendship with Jack Kerouac — and his invitations to escape the Bay Area for the solitude of the Big Sur coast — tied the poet and the novelist to the same stretch of rugged landscape that still draws tourists and artists today.
    — David Caraccio Updated July 13, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of friendship
Noun
  • Symptoms can include a lump in the armpit, dimpled skin on the chest, red or flaky skin near the nipple, pain or tenderness on the chest or armpit, clear or bloody nipple discharge and an inverted nipple, per the Cleveland Clinic.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
  • Watch for other signs of pregnancy like breast tenderness, weight gain, and nausea.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 14 July 2026
Definition of tenderness
Noun
  • Ellis said the county and Atlanta’s school board need that tax revenue to fund services like hospitals, courts and childhood education over the next three decades.
    — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
  • District Attorney Timothy Good thanked the grand jury for their service.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Definition of service
Noun
  • Effective recovery depends not only on the generosity of the donations, but also on strategic approaches that can get the type of aid needed to the people who need it.
    — Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, The Conversation, 13 July 2026
  • In all of these cases, the effect is largely the same—forging intimacy through some level of generosity or gallantry, coupled with pure, physical proximity—and in 2026, all of them are still technically possible.
    — Sara Delgado, Vogue, 9 July 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
  • Whether the lengthy commutes were a factor or not, both Valley teams lost via mercy rules.
    — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 14 July 2026
  • Lacey hates this idea, but the group decides to go with showing mercy this time around.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
Definition of mercy
Noun
  • What that collaboration has come up with is a new knife that pushes Opinel's classic profile to new heights in terms of user friendliness and features.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
  • The friendliness, the blue-sky, anything-is-possible thinking, and their love of this land.
    — Priyanka Mattoo, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 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 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on benevolence

Nglish: Translation of benevolence for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about benevolence

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