Synonyms of benevolence

benevolence

noun

bə-ˈnev-lən(t)s 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kindness
• service
• mercy
• privilege
• grace
• indulgence
• courtesy
• blessing
• favor
• benefit
• boon
• turn
• advantage
• waiver
• dispensation
• liberty
• license
• godsend
• manna

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interference
• obstacle
• hindrance
• impediment
• hurdle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• friendship
• generosity
• friendliness
• goodwill
• kindness
• neighborliness
• cordiality
• amity
• good-fellowship
• kindliness
• brotherhood
• charity
• community
• fellowship
• harmony
• cordialness
• gemütlichkeit
• companionship
• tolerance
• bonhomie
• sympathy
• comradeship
• empathy
• camaraderie
• collegiality
• altruism
• comity
• rapport
• concord
• civility
• rapprochement
• selflessness
• unselfishness
• affinity
• company
• philanthropy
• communion

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• malevolence
• venom
• intolerance
• hatred
• hostility
• ill will
• malice
• antagonism
• enmity
• animosity
• hate
• disfavor
• antipathy
• rancor
• belligerency
• incivility
• querulousness
• quarrelsomeness

3

as in tenderness

sympathetic concern for the well-being of others

an actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kindness
• tenderness
• beneficence
• generosity
• humaneness
• benignity
• kindliness
• warmth
• kindheartedness
• tenderheartedness
• attentiveness
• warmheartedness
• good-heartedness
• thoughtfulness
• benignancy
• considerateness
• mercifulness
• friendliness
• compassionateness
• softheartedness
• patience
• affability
• altruism
• graciousness
• understanding
• tolerance
• pleasantness
• charitableness
• niceness
• leniency
• magnanimity
• clemency
• philanthropy
• unselfishness
• good-naturedness
• charity
• good-temperedness
• greatheartedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cruelty
• savagery
• brutality
• inhumanity
• callousness
• heartlessness
• barbarity
• ruthlessness
• brutishness
• unkindness
• savageness
• bestiality
• mercilessness
• severity
• insensitivity
• thoughtlessness
• inconsiderateness
• hard-heartedness
• barbarousness
• cold-bloodedness
• toughness
• sternness
• unkindliness
• pitilessness
• unfeelingness
• malevolence
• harshness
• grimness
• meanness
• virulence
• maliciousness
• spitefulness
• hatefulness
• vitriol

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of benevolence

He is loved as kings are loved, for their power and for their benevolence, and also for their distance. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 July 2026

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