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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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3
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station
loved reading about the days when gentle lords and ladies danced at fancy balls
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4
as in soft
not loud in pitch or volume
the mother spoke in a gentle voice to her child
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gentle
Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 10 Mar. 2026
Antioxidant-rich and full of gentle fiber, berries like blueberries and raspberries support gut health and encourage regularity.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 10 Mar. 2026
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026
Dry plane air often leaves skin feeling dull and dehydrated, but applying a few gentle, moisturizing products can make a big difference.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2025
Jessica Copeland, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2024
The material doesn’t want sophisticated adults mucking about in it or, worse, gentling its hard edges for commercial consumption.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for gentle
Adjective
Cheo’s sensitive skin needed gentle yet top-grade formulas, while Ting, a mother of two, sought versatile products that slot easily into a busy schedule.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 10 Mar. 2026
Antioxidant-rich and full of gentle fiber, berries like blueberries and raspberries support gut health and encourage regularity.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
Its gentle without forsaking cleanliness, and leaves skin feeling softer after each use.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026
Dry plane air often leaves skin feeling dull and dehydrated, but applying a few gentle, moisturizing products can make a big difference.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
From transformative serums to gentle yet effective cleansers, this list has something for everyone to add to their skincare routine.
—Jessica Copeland, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2024
The material doesn’t want sophisticated adults mucking about in it or, worse, gentling its hard edges for commercial consumption.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for gentle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentle
Adjective
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The brand’s signature ingredient—thermal spring water from the French town La Roche-Posay—is also present in the formula, bringing a soothing touch.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Some soothing music or a chill podcast could be the best companion for productivity.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Based on these parameters, scientists estimate the planet’s equilibrium temperature to be around 368 K, placing it in a relatively warm but still temperate range for rocky exoplanets.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The species is commonly found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, but federal officials say its range has expanded in recent years to places including the east and south coasts of Australia, waters off South Africa and the Texas Gulf Coast.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Under the law, the remaining earls, viscounts and dukes who inherited their seats in the chamber along with their aristocratic titles will leave Parliament for good when the current session concludes this spring.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
12 Mar. 2026
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On Tuesday night, members of the upper chamber dropped objections to legislation passed by the House of Commons ousting dozens of dukes, earls and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament along with their aristocratic titles.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The team created a soft hydrogel made from chitosan, a naturally occurring polymer found in the shells of crustaceans.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
If emotions surge, pause to write thoughts before speaking, then return with a softer tone so both sides feel heard and respected.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There’s also just one overwhelming evil force in this play — the Nazis — whereas Dumas had his musketeers fighting not just ruthless government officials but royalty, religious leaders and nobles.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The one thing about this show, the nobles, the kings and queens are all terribly interesting.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
President Joe Biden attempted to appease Iran by relaxing sanctions, another ploy that failed.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
On the Republican side, Rubio’s explanation for the military action seemed to appease many key members of Congress.—
Charlie Hunt,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The basis of the important therapy stems from studies showing that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing positivity, according to the news release.—
Dawn Giangiulio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That may have helped soften the blow for investors.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
-
While the council's priority continues to be to remove undocumented immigrants who are violating the law, members have significantly softened their stance for immigrants who do not have criminal records.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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