1
as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a benevolent willingness to provide veterinary services to low-income families at greatly reduced prices
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in charitable
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others
a benevolent businessman who has donated money and time to helping inner-city youths
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of benevolent
There is, equally, a certain childish hope that Vuong’s reader will approach him with the benevolent incomprehension of a maternal figure.
—
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
This allowed people to keep believing in a fundamentally benevolent government despite their experiences.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Maybe the Giants were just being benevolent by giving Wilson the majority of his payment sooner.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
In the hospital, the patients are watched by doctors and other staff, whose gaze is not always benevolent.
—Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benevolent
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
This allowed people to keep believing in a fundamentally benevolent government despite their experiences.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Maybe the Giants were just being benevolent by giving Wilson the majority of his payment sooner.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
In the hospital, the patients are watched by doctors and other staff, whose gaze is not always benevolent.
—Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benevolent
Adjective
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Seek out people who are compassionate and who have your back.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 June 2025
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That’s why taking a holistic, compassionate approach to dealing with these issues is crucial.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Matthew J. Belvedere,
CNBC,
7 June 2025
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What started as a charitable gesture from The Salvation Army in 1938 has since evolved into an annual tradition for brands and customers alike.—
Kate Nalepinski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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That relationship is built, visit by visit, kind interaction after warm conversation.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
1 June 2025
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Ultimately, however, the union won its contract. 1995: In the largest takeover of its kind, federal housing officials took control of the Chicago Housing Authority four days after its chairman, Vince Lane, and the CHA board resigned under a cloud of mismanagement.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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For estate planners, CPAs, and financial advisors, the key takeaway is that tax tools should serve philanthropic intent, not drive it.—
Matthew F. Erskine,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, is the president of the New England Patriots Foundation, one of several philanthropic arms of the Kraft empire.—
Jason Clinkscales,
Sportico.com,
3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
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As the only one with a sense of humor and a semblance of perspective, Jeff is the most sympathetic of this toxic crew.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
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The Trump administration has framed support for Palestinians — which Khalil’s grandparents were — as antisemitic and sympathetic to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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Animal Legal Defense Fund, an organization that aims to enforce stronger anti-cruelty laws and the humane treatment of animals, has also led calls to end the use of horses in tourism work.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
27 May 2025
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This film is, however, firmly rooted in the here and now of these characters, the present moment of Nadia’s pregnancy and the stresses placed on the couple, which are sensitively explored within a warm and humane framework.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Southern Living contributor Rick Bragg says the recipe is actually very simple: squishy white brand, salt and pepper, generous smears of mayo, and slices of juicy tomatoes.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
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But in a high-tax country like Norway, where locals already fund generous public services, the idea of taxing tourists has been politically sensitive.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolent. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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