Synonyms of gentle

gentle 1 of 3

adjective

ˈjen-tᵊl 

1

as in soothing

not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect

use a gentle detergent on that delicate silk blouse

her gentle ways

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soothing
• mellow
• soft
• mild
• delicate
• light
• quiet
• benign
• smooth
• peaceful
• serene
• calm
• tender
• bland
• compassionate
• tranquil
• balmy
• nonabrasive
• merciful
• placid
• easy
• softening
• lenient
• pacific
• sleek
• slick
• clement
• emollient
• cushioning
• buffering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• powerful
• harsh
• stern
• hard
• coarse
• caustic
• abrasive
• intense
• rough
• severe
• fierce
• exquisite
• scathing
• strong
• forceful
• violent
• savage
• ungentle
• forcible
• rugged
• irritating
• stiff
• gruff
• grim
• rude
• roughened
• oppressive
• pitiless
• tyrannical
• roughening
• abrading
• heavy-handed
• tyrannic

2

as in temperate

marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low

whisk the egg yolks in a double boiler set over a gentle heat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• temperate
• mild
• sunny
• moderate
• soft
• genial
• equable
• balmy
• peaceful
• pleasant
• delightful
• clement
• calm
• tranquil
• placid
• clear
• cloudless
• fair
• sunshiny
• rainless
• fine
• halcyon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• severe
• harsh
• rough
• intemperate
• breezy
• inclement
• stormy
• gusty
• windy
• blustery
• gray
• misty
• rainy
• grey
• gloomy
• raw
• blustering
• bleak
• cloudy
• bitter
• hazy
• dismal
• squally
• overcast
• dirty
• foggy
• nasty
• foul
• showery
• sunless

3

as in aristocratic

of high birth, rank, or station

loved reading about the days when gentle lords and ladies danced at fancy balls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aristocratic
• noble
• great
• genteel
• patrician
• upper-class
• upper-crust
• highborn
• grand
• royal
• highbred
• wellborn
• blue-blooded
• silk-stocking
• superior
• gentlemanly
• high
• exalted
• regal
• lofty
• ladylike
• queenly
• princely
• senior
• knightly
• high-level
• kingly
• lordly
• elevated
• ennobled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humble
• common
• low
• lowly
• ignoble
• mean
• plebeian
• lower-class
• inferior
• ordinary
• bastard
• plain
• nonaristocratic
• illegitimate
• ungenteel
• knavish
• baseborn
• degraded
• subordinate
• junior
• abased

4

as in soft

not loud in pitch or volume

the mother spoke in a gentle voice to her child

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soft
• quiet
• hushed
• soothing
• silent
• dull
• muffled
• low
• calm
• serene
• tranquil
• restful
• peaceful
• dreamy
• still
• softened
• muted
• toned (down)
• dead
• stilly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loud
• sonorous
• thunderous
• stentorian
• clamorous
• piercing
• thundering
• booming
• ringing
• roaring
• deafening
• blasting
• resounding
• vociferous
• raucous
• brazen
• earsplitting
• noisy
• clangorous
• blaring
• harsh
• crashing
• obstreperous
• discordant
• strident
• plangent
• shrill
• overloud
• clear
• grating
• rip-roaring
• dinning
• squealing
• trumpetlike
• clarion

gentle

2 of 3

noun

as in noble

a man or woman of high birth or social position

the archbishop treated both the gentles and the commoners with respect and kindness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• noble
• aristocrat
• patrician
• blue blood
• magnate
• gentleperson
• swell
• socialite
• gentlefolks
• mogul
• gentlefolk
• nabob
• magnifico

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• commoner
• proletarian
• plebeian
• peasant
• canaille
• boor
• roturier
• fellah
• peon
• pleb

gentle

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to appease

to lessen the anger or agitation of

employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appease
• calm
• comfort
• soothe
• please
• placate
• propitiate
• quiet
• pacify
• mollify
• disarm
• conciliate
• console
• assuage
• delight
• satisfy
• hush
• content
• tranquilize
• ingratiate
• tranquillize
• endear (to)
• gladden
• flatter
• coax
• baby
• humor
• gratify
• soft-soap
• indulge
• cater (to)
• cajole
• pamper
• satiate
• spoil
• quench
• wheedle
• sate
• coddle
• sweeten
• overpraise
• blandish
• blarney
• adulate
• mollycoddle
• sweet-talk
• dulcify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• anger
• outrage
• cross
• inflame
• infuriate
• irritate
• put out
• bother
• get
• aggravate
• enrage
• ire
• annoy
• provoke
• burn (up)
• antagonize
• rouse
• bug
• ruffle
• rile
• vex
• chafe
• grate
• exasperate
• irk
• gall
• pique
• rankle
• incense
• disturb
• slight
• harass
• enflame
• distress
• discomfort
• upset
• worry
• madden
• persecute
• pester
• agitate
• roil
• unsettle
• harry
• perturb
• nettle
• insult
• offend
• fret
• peeve
• affront
• unhinge

2

as in to caress

to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner

soothingly gentled his cat's head as she was being treated by the vet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• caress
• pat
• stroke
• love
• hug
• pet
• fondle
• cradle
• cuddle
• nuzzle
• snuggle
• paw
• neck
• spoon
• nose
• massage
• baby
• nestle
• enfold
• knead
• embrace
• pamper
• feel up
• dandle
• coddle
• bill
• canoodle
• bounce
• indulge
• spoil
• mollycoddle

3

as in to soften

to lessen the shock of

adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soften
• cushion
• buffer
• dull
• moderate
• temper
• alleviate
• mitigate
• modulate
• dampen
• lighten
• ease
• deaden
• baffle
• allay
• relieve
• obtund
• assuage

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intensify
• sharpen
• heighten

Examples of gentle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The smart glasses have already reportedly led to a college football spy scandal, and reviews describe the LED light indicating the camera is on as a gentle white light that’s easily overlooked in broad daylight. —Lindsey Choo, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

But Abuelita, with her gentle wisdom, guides through a mindful journey. —Roxsy Lin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024

Noun

Coconut milk gentles the green-chile heat in the thick, creamy sauce. —Providence Cicero, The Seattle Times, 10 Aug. 2017

The dog, described as gassy but gentle, spent much of its time on stage plopped on its side. —Joy Johnston, ajc, 24 June 2017

Verb

Not only can gentle strains of honey bees -- if the bees are properly located and carefully managed -- be maintained within populated areas without causing a nuisance, but a resident having an apiary will not increase the number of bees in a neighboring yard. —John Benson, cleveland, 24 Mar. 2022

While a traditional blow dryer pushes air out and causes frizz, a diffuser will just gentle dry hair without any friction. —Tatjana Freund, ELLE, 28 July 2022