Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

benevolence

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of benevolence

1 an act of kind assistance

  • self-effacing as well as selfless, he refused all public acknowledgement of his many benevolences to the community
Synonyms of benevolence

boon, courtesy, favor, grace, indulgence, kindness, mercy, service, turn
Words Related to benevolence

dispensation, waiver

advantage, benefit, blessing, godsend, manna

liberty, license (or licence), privilege
Near Antonyms of benevolence

hindrance, hurdle, impediment, interference, obstacle

2 kindly concern, interest, or support

  • her benevolence towards her employees was such that she actually let one live in her home temporarily
Synonyms of benevolence

amity, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness
Words Related to benevolence

bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship

civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement

charity, generosity

affinity, communion, empathy, kindness, sympathy, tolerance

altruism, philanthropy, selflessness, unselfishness
Near Antonyms of benevolence

disfavor, intolerance

animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor

belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness
Antonyms of benevolence

ill will, malevolence, venom

3 sympathetic concern for the well-being of others

  • an actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty
Synonyms of benevolence

beneficence, benignancy, benignity, compassionateness, good-heartedness, humaneness, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, softheartedness, tenderheartedness, tenderness, warmheartedness
Words Related to benevolence

attentiveness, considerateness, thoughtfulness

affability, friendliness, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, warmth

graciousness, niceness, pleasantness

clemency, leniency, mercifulness

patience, tolerance, understanding

altruism, charitableness, charity

generosity, greatheartedness, magnanimity, philanthropy, unselfishness
Near Antonyms of benevolence

mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness

inconsiderateness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness

grimness, harshness, severity, sternness, toughness

hatefulness, malevolence, maliciousness, meanness, spitefulness, virulence, vitriol
Antonyms of benevolence

barbarity, barbarousness, bestiality, brutality, brutishness, callousness, cold-bloodedness, cruelty, hard-heartedness, heartlessness, inhumanity, savageness, savagery, unfeelingness, unkindliness, unkindness

Learn More about benevolence

  1. Dictionary: Definition of benevolence Spanish Central: Translation of benevolence Nglish: Translation of benevolence for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of benevolence for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about benevolence

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up benevolence? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

nidus

a nest or breeding place

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nebulous Lip reading, Brexit, and semantic uncertainty

  2. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  3. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games