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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For 55 years, the characters of Sesame Street have taught us how to count, how to read — and as importantly, how to be kind, empathic and compassionate.—
Afdhel Aziz,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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Here’s to more humane, efficient and compassionate processes in the future crafted by politicians on both sides of the aisle.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Plus, a charitable component will allow the good work of Pride LIVE!—
Kimberly Nordyke,
HollywoodReporter,
15 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.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
15 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
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On social media, where content creators have been dissecting the case, some commenters have been distressingly sympathetic to Diddy’s defense.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2025
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There’s not a single sympathetic White character in the film.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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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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At work, that can be an effective way to share success stories and build a reputation as someone who is not only funny, but generous in sharing what worked.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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The sets are more generous in size so sleeping in these might be akin to swimming in a pool of soft decadence.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolent. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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