1
as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
around campus he's known as a real character, but one whose eccentricities are entirely benign
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
basking under a benign sun on a day in early spring
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of benign
But what had once been raucous and raunchy mischief, was now benign horseplay.
—
Time, 30 Oct. 2025
According to a 2015 Time Magazine story, the tradition of benign pranks began sometime in the 1930s and 1940s in the United States, brought on perhaps as a way to defuse the tensions of economic devastation and the pain of war.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Canada’s alliance with a relatively benign Washington always entailed some risk.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
But Olympia is actually the more menacing work, precisely because it’s considered more benign and laudable.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benign
Time, 30 Oct. 2025
According to a 2015 Time Magazine story, the tradition of benign pranks began sometime in the 1930s and 1940s in the United States, brought on perhaps as a way to defuse the tensions of economic devastation and the pain of war.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Canada’s alliance with a relatively benign Washington always entailed some risk.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
But Olympia is actually the more menacing work, precisely because it’s considered more benign and laudable.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benign
Adjective
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Here are five times what seemed like a harmless toy turned into a puzzling moment online.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
This is usually harmless and goes away when intake is reduced.—
Barbie Cervoni,
Verywell Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This can support the aircraft’s weight, allowing a gentle descent with the wings level.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 Nov. 2025
-
And so, shortly after his startling, spirit-lifting victory in the primary last spring, the gentle flood of inquiries commenced.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Having no cool aunt of my own and no elder sisters, just teenage babysitters and camp counselors (each with their own unique but tenuous grasp on anatomy and reproductive science), the book felt warm, inviting, and—perhaps most important to my terrified, bleeding, self—safe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The two men exchange grateful texts later that evening, home safe and stumped about where to go next.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
For an accent, consider introducing a deep blue shade to provide a soothing contrast.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The soothing, antioxidant-rich formula offers enough coverage that it can be used in lieu of a tinted moisturizer or lightweight foundation.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The hardware is built for intimacy, pairing a soft exterior with full-body sensors that react to a user’s touch on its head or neck.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
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So uncompromising as to turn hard heads into soft behinds.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The blast was set off on a concrete surface to replicate an urban environment, with air temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius, typical of mild weather conditions.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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In fact, David Landsberg, the President & CEO at Goodwill Industries of South Florida, says that most decorative home goods made of glass, metal, or ceramic can easily be cleaned with a simple combination of mild dish soap and warm water.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Check out which Tiny Desk is most likely to surprise you, what has the most mellow groove and more.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
30 Dec. 2025
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If Lopatin has increasingly pushed his solo music into a more over-the-top, dramatized mode over the years (with the refreshing exception of this year’s mellow Tranquilizer), all that theatricality finally finds a good outlet here, lifting the material to grandiose and otherworldly places.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benign. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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