Synonyms of generous

generous

adjective

ˈje-nə-rəs 

1

as in charitable

giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation

a civic leader who is very generous with his money and time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• charitable
• liberal
• benevolent
• bountiful
• handsome
• munificent
• open
• unselfish
• bounteous
• compassionate
• kind
• fulsome
• unstinting
• hospitable
• unsparing
• openhanded
• kindly
• bighearted
• lavish
• free
• sympathetic
• philanthropic
• humanitarian
• extravagant
• magnanimous
• freehanded
• big
• altruistic
• profuse
• overgenerous
• freehearted
• beneficent
• openhearted
• good-hearted
• largehearted
• greathearted
• samaritan

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ungenerous
• stingy
• selfish
• small
• parsimonious
• miserly
• cheap
• uncharitable
• tightfisted
• tight
• close
• penurious
• petty
• illiberal
• costive
• mean
• thrifty
• frugal
• spare
• sparing
• mingy
• chary
• closefisted
• stinting
• avaricious
• desirous
• covetous
• acquisitive
• avid
• rapacious
• envious
• mercenary
• grudging
• resentful
• begrudging
• itchy
• grasping
• hoggish
• stinting
• coveting

2

as in plentiful

being more than enough without being excessive

mashed potatoes with a generous serving of butter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plentiful
• ample
• plenty
• abundant
• enough
• bountiful
• sufficient
• bounteous
• adequate
• comfortable
• liberal
• plenteous
• all kinds of
• extra
• rich
• wealthy
• thick on the ground
• aplenty
• lavish
• cornucopian
• surplus
• plump
• prolific
• galore
• copious
• overflowing
• fruitful
• fertile
• supernumerary
• prodigal
• replete
• fecund
• fulsome
• blooming
• profuse
• abounding
• teeming
• rife
• luxuriant
• fat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimal
• inadequate
• insufficient
• scant
• spare
• lacking
• bare
• meager
• deficient
• wanting
• least
• small
• minimum
• stingy
• light
• slight
• skimpy
• sterile
• unproductive
• barren
• infertile
• unfruitful

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective generous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of generous are bountiful, liberal, and munificent. While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

Where would bountiful be a reasonable alternative to generous?

The synonyms bountiful and generous are sometimes interchangeable, but bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

When might liberal be a better fit than generous?

In some situations, the words liberal and generous are roughly equivalent. However, liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

When is munificent a more appropriate choice than generous?

The words munificent and generous can be used in similar contexts, but munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of generous

The Mobile Markets are made possible through a partnership with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, the Northern Indiana Food Bank and generous donations to the Franciscan Health Foundation’s Food Insecurity Fund. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026

To his credit, Kevin was really generous about my hesitation. — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Nov. 2026

Ueno Bank previously said more than a million people opened bank accounts for the first time using its services, which included generous cash back offers on groceries. — Ava Berger, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026

With so much weight so high off the ground, and with the generous suspension travel of an off-roader, managing lateral weight transfer is key. — Stephen Edelstein, The Drive, 7 Nov. 2026