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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of benevolent
But at its core, Wrexham’s rapid rise owes mostly to club stumbling into a relationship with a benevolent benefactor with far more resources than most of its now-former fourth- and fifth-division peers.
—
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
It's long been the stuff of science fiction: humans achieving immortality by uploading their consciousness into a silicon virtual paradise, ruled over by a benevolent super-intelligent AI.
—ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
The eminence whom the film casts as the prime mover of benevolent governance is Nelson Rockefeller, a liberal Republican (the breed wasn’t uncommon then) who was the state’s governor from 1959 to 1973.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benevolent
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
It's long been the stuff of science fiction: humans achieving immortality by uploading their consciousness into a silicon virtual paradise, ruled over by a benevolent super-intelligent AI.
—ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
The eminence whom the film casts as the prime mover of benevolent governance is Nelson Rockefeller, a liberal Republican (the breed wasn’t uncommon then) who was the state’s governor from 1959 to 1973.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benevolent
Adjective
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TikToker Bella Bradford Announces Her Own Death at 24 in Video Recorded During 'Final Stages' of Rare Terminal Cancer By Friday, however, her condition had deteriorated so drastically that the only compassionate option left was hospice.—
Carissa Talmage,
People.com,
2 May 2025
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Albert Kim is the founder and CEO of Sota Cloud, pioneering through compassionate innovation.—
Albert Kim,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Prince Harry was once a central figure in the royal family — and someone who often connected with the public through his military service and charitable work.—
Erin Hill,
People.com,
2 May 2025
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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.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Paige makes the astute observation that Craig and Kyle are similar and need to be prodded along with kind words and attention with everything that happens.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
8 May 2025
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If the fates are kind, the Avs have learned at least two things from the sheer agony of the past weekend.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Chu—who also signed the letter and whose own appearance at the Y was cancelled amid mass resignations provoked by the Nguyen incident—is sympathetic to Nguyen, and moved by the bravery of the employees who resigned in protest.—
S. C. Cornell,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
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Last week, in Mahmoud v. Taylor, most of the justices sounded extremely sympathetic to religious parents who objected to books being taught in public schools that have LGBTQ characters.—
Ian Millhiser,
Vox,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The humane society believes he may have been born blind.—
Simone Jasper,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2025
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The all-white pup has spent 281 days — much of her short life — in the humane society’s care, shelter officials said.—
Sara Schilling,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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What makes the piece notable is its exhaustive, generous attention to what might seem—to some—a frivolous subject.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
4 May 2025
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While most grocery store cakes are quarter-sheet cakes, Costco's is a generous half-sheet cake, so it's definitely meant to feed a crowd.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolent. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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