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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Nina Sikkersoq Kristoffersen, a Greenlandic activist in Copenhagen, feels that for too long Danes have expected Greenlanders to be grateful for their benevolence while minimizing the ways Denmark benefitted from the island’s natural resources.
—
Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
After April, then fame, then drilling down on your right path, then help, protection, benevolence.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2026
Gabriel’s billionaire is, in his great benevolence, giving the help a few weeks off in Greece.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, obituaries for women contained more language associated with benevolence and enjoying life’s pleasures.
—Kyle Fiore Law, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benevolence
Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
After April, then fame, then drilling down on your right path, then help, protection, benevolence.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2026
Gabriel’s billionaire is, in his great benevolence, giving the help a few weeks off in Greece.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, obituaries for women contained more language associated with benevolence and enjoying life’s pleasures.
—Kyle Fiore Law, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benevolence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benevolence
Noun
-
Stay well, everyone, and know that small acts of kindness count.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
In the South, manners are all about genuine kindness and compassion.—
Katherine Owen,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lola, the 20-year-old daughter of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, had a close relationship with Muldoon thanks to her mom’s friendship and former relationship with the Days of Our Lives star.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Greg opens his heart to the possibility of a real friendship with this bonkers dude.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This recipe uses an Instant Pot to quickly cook the meat to juicy tenderness.—
Deputy Food Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Having a husband who engaged with his kids with ferocious tenderness and playful delight was a gift.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Together, the developments mark a turning point for the joint city-county agency, which has coordinated housing and services for people experiencing homelessness across the region for decades.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
On most professional shoots a phone camera would be supplemented with lenses, stabilizers, and ancillary gear—or, in the case of Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later (2025), up to twenty iPhones could be marshaled into service at once.—
Dennis Lim,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Harding defines kindness as an act of generosity expecting nothing in return.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Attention around Simpson has since taken off, with people commending him for his kindness and generosity.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Moreover, Southern plantation owners carried out a robust propaganda effort to extol the beneficence of their economic system.—
Gerry Lanosga,
The Conversation,
17 Nov. 2025
-
Trump’s pardon beneficence has also shone on former House Republicans in Southern California, notably a pair who each once represented parts of the San Diego area.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Staying for now and hoping for the best may be the most realistic option, although that leaves companies at the mercy of an opaque legal system.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
If there were ever a case for a mercy rule in basketball, this weekend made it.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But many in Europe are concerned about his potential friendliness with the Kremlin.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Creators on DeviantArt enjoy the convenience, security, and user-friendliness of modern internet retail platforms combined with the broad reach and audience-building features of mainstream social media.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benevolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolence. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
