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
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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
as in kindness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others
a doctor who extends to all of her patients, both rich and poor, the same measure of gentle benignity
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of benign
Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Even seemingly benign alterations for aesthetic reasons are prohibited, such as removing the photojournalist’s own shadow or evidence of their camera equipment, removing an unsightly wire or fencepost, or airbrushing someone’s facial features to increase attractiveness.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
The outcomes could be benign, tinkering around the edges of existing conventions, or more concerning limitations to the Fed's ability to use its balance sheet in a crisis.
—Steve Liesman,matt Peterson, CNBC, 4 May 2026
The creatures can deliver a sting that is benign to humans.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for benign
Adjective
Essential tremor, sometimes called benign essential tremor, is one of the most common movement disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health.
—Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Even seemingly benign alterations for aesthetic reasons are prohibited, such as removing the photojournalist’s own shadow or evidence of their camera equipment, removing an unsightly wire or fencepost, or airbrushing someone’s facial features to increase attractiveness.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
The outcomes could be benign, tinkering around the edges of existing conventions, or more concerning limitations to the Fed's ability to use its balance sheet in a crisis.
—Steve Liesman,matt Peterson, CNBC, 4 May 2026
The creatures can deliver a sting that is benign to humans.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for benign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benign
Adjective
-
The right-hander blanked the Rockies for five innings, allowing four harmless singles over.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
-
While most are harmless, some have the potential to become malignant over time.—
Holly Burns,
Time,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Aub says that in general, curly hair does best with gentle, hydrating formulas that can both cleanse the scalp without sacrificing the integrity of the curl pattern.—
Aimee Simeon,
Glamour,
7 May 2026
-
Love on the Spectrum — gentle, warm, built on sincerity rather than spectacle — represents an evolution within the genre.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
So much kindness to me and my whole family.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
-
My mother's kindness had a powerful impact on me.—
Esther Ndumi Ngumbi,
NPR,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Water has been a focus of the Newsom administration since his first day in office, when the governor took his cabinet to Monterey Park Tract, a rural Central Valley community that lacked access to safe drinking water.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Our daughters no longer feel safe in their sports or private spaces.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Those are paired with a soothing lineup of Centella asiatica, madecassoside, panthenol, and allantoin to keep skin balanced (as irritation can worsen pigmentation).—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
9 May 2026
-
Opt for Warm Lighting Harsh lighting is the opposite of soothing, says Brooks.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
And that was really nice – between dominance and tenderness and understanding towards the girls.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
9 May 2026
-
The pale, buttery sweet bread has an elastic bite on the outside that gives way to a plush, milky tenderness inside.—
Restaurant Critic,
Houston Chronicle,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
All German Pilsner malt, super soft water profile like that in a Czech pale lager, and 100% US-grown hops with a touch of flaked corn.—
Blaine Callahan,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
And inside the adjacent soft pretzel shop, two workers leaned over on the counter, watching videos on a phone to pass the time.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The four bioethical principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice, developed by Beauchamp and Childress, provide a framework for this.—
Caroline Petit,
Forbes.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Moreover, Southern plantation owners carried out a robust propaganda effort to extol the beneficence of their economic system.—
Gerry Lanosga,
The Conversation,
17 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benign. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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