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
Written and directed by Iyiola in her directorial debut, the film follows Zadie, a successful London florist suffering from fibroids, benign tumors that can develop in the wall of the uterus.
—
Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
Craigslist, the seemingly benign classified listings operation, single-handedly destroyed the business model of most alternative news weeklies, which never recovered.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
There are older and more benign farming traditions, too.
—Sarah Moss, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
In another, the bot mistook a mammogram of a benign breast cyst for an image of testicles.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for benign
Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
Craigslist, the seemingly benign classified listings operation, single-handedly destroyed the business model of most alternative news weeklies, which never recovered.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
There are older and more benign farming traditions, too.
—Sarah Moss, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
In another, the bot mistook a mammogram of a benign breast cyst for an image of testicles.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for benign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benign
Adjective
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Despite their nickname, springtails are harmless to humans, do not bite, and are a different species from fleas.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Jan. 2026
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User-facing large language models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini have been trained to roleplay as a particular character—as a helpful, harmless assistant.—
Tharin Pillay,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That contentment was like a gentle wind on a hot day, or a few drops of rain during a drought – natural, humane happiness.—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
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Esparza says that this gentle, sulfate-free cleanser removes oils and pigments without stripping bristles.—
Taryn Brooke,
Glamour,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
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The world is safer when the United States leads.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In a social, psychological context, Masli is a facilitator, a quirky social worker with a golden leg for an arm, an upswept hairstyle that’s half hair and half hat, a makeshift blue gown that might’ve once been a blanket and a soft-spoken soothing presence.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
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Being loved does not always feel soothing.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Gordon is facing a lengthy trend of soft tissue injuries.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
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Compassionate words keep bonds soft and support your spiritual side.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This front is essentially formed by the milder Atlantic Ocean air being pushed inland (therefore warming areas east of the front up by several degrees).—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
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The 40 Below’s Insulated Food Bag is a neoprene pouch that helps the cook-in bags, which are insulated with much milder climates and shorter cooking times in mind, retain heat while your chili mac rehydrates.—
Outside,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Skiers and riders can enhance their skills, starting in the mellow, high-alpine powder fields of Bergman Bowl and progressing to the steep trees and rock drops of The Outback.—
Sara Hansen,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
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The drowsy feeling always dissipated pretty quickly, though the mellow vibes sometimes lingered for hours—even after my laptop was propped back open.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benign. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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