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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 benevolent
Brendan Gleeson plays Ali Mac as a benevolent parent, the only person who ever fully understood her.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
With a benevolent billionaire in the governor’s office, a Democratic supermajority in the statehouse and a willing partner in City Hall, there has never been a better opportunity to right the past wrongs of racial discrimination.
—Jackson Potter, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Mutual growth is on the table when the Cancer moon teams up with benevolent Jupiter.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Patton Oswalt voices Doodad, a benevolent wizard joining Deathstalker on his journey.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benevolent
Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
With a benevolent billionaire in the governor’s office, a Democratic supermajority in the statehouse and a willing partner in City Hall, there has never been a better opportunity to right the past wrongs of racial discrimination.
—Jackson Potter, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Mutual growth is on the table when the Cancer moon teams up with benevolent Jupiter.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Patton Oswalt voices Doodad, a benevolent wizard joining Deathstalker on his journey.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benevolent
Adjective
-
Vettel is already known as a mentor for younger drivers, and his compassionate, veteran savvy would help any racing organization develop talent.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Jess is compassionate and understanding.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Decluttering your own home might not be motivating on its own, but supporting charitable organizations, reducing landfill waste, and helping others find affordable essentials through donating to thrift stores often does the trick.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Even kind gestures or neutral actions can be misinterpreted as hostile or manipulative.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But some of them weren’t kind and that does something to you psychologically.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Funding remains limited, often coming in small donations from philanthropic groups.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
The group is celebrating its 100-year anniversary as one of the oldest philanthropic social groups in Carlsbad.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Public sentiment seemingly reached a turning point in July as reports of famine and Israeli soldiers firing on food lines in Gaza drove even sympathetic Democrats to issue rebukes.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Perhaps, though, Kubrick's cold view of Jack and choice to diminish some of King's sympathetic nuances serve to heighten the terror; how much does knowing the complex motivations of a domestic abuser help their victims?—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Israel blames Hamas for the scale of the destruction in Gaza, saying the group hides behind civilians, uses civil infrastructure for military purposes, and loots humanitarian aid intended for ordinary Gazans.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Israel launched its ground offensive into Gaza City, further eroding prospects for a ceasefire in the enclave, which is already facing a humanitarian catastrophe.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This isn't to say that Raskin's quest for a truly humane computer has completely come to naught.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Family Matters offers something radical and profoundly humane in a field where so much emphasis is placed on the one who struggles with addiction.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That Golden Quartet The chemistry between the four leads was undeniable — especially during those late-night kitchen table conversations, always over a generous slice of cheesecake.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Hot Cheesy Crab Dip There’s no quicker way to please a crowd than with Grandma’s cheese dip, and this recipe happens to include a generous helping of crab meat.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolent. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share