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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gentle
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Spraying foliage feels like a gentle, all-over shower, but wet leaves are an open invitation for fungal disease, especially in heat or humidity.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 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
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
Such symptoms can be helped by gentling cleaning the outside of your eye with warm water to remove crust and avoiding aggravating your symptoms by scratching or rubbing your eyes.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for gentle
Adjective
The nipple pasties are reusable, waterproof and simple to clean with water and gentle soap.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Spraying foliage feels like a gentle, all-over shower, but wet leaves are an open invitation for fungal disease, especially in heat or humidity.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 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
Yet he was gentled by his intense spiritualism, as shown by his teaching Sunday School.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
Such symptoms can be helped by gentling cleaning the outside of your eye with warm water to remove crust and avoiding aggravating your symptoms by scratching or rubbing your eyes.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for gentle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentle
Adjective
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For designer Anita Yokota, Benjamin Moore’s Smoky Blue is a standout—a soothing, nature-nodding hue that soothes on sight.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Spray dry toilet paper with cleansing, soothing and refreshing Pristine to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and safe for your sewer and septic systems.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In November or December, that is likely to change, as temperatures drop up north while the climate remains temperate here, and surf swells get notably more ridable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The controversy stems from the fact that Mars seems to have had temperate climate periods with rain that deeply altered the rocks, as well as widespread rivers and lakes that persisted for potentially millions of years.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
News articles and photos of the casual picnic enamored Americans, transforming their view of the royals as rigid and aristocratic to more down-to-earth.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Set the scene The streets of Forte—as insiders call it—are a maze of tall box hedges and gates that shelter private villas built for wealthy and aristocratic Italian families.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sites that preserve soft-bodied organisms are even rarer because soft tissues decompose more easily, making these places especially useful for piecing together prehistoric ecosystems.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
1 May 2026
-
Larsson and Pink have penned a postcard to their respective home countries while flexing the global soft power afforded, at least in part, by their international alliance.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
With the blessing and leadership of various popes, the nobles of Europe raised armies, crossed various countries or sailed to the Middle East to fight and save the Holy Land (Palestine) from Muslim domination, something that echoes down the centuries to today.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The royal court, along with the palaces of nobles, became centers of elegance and display, with ceremonies and outward grandeur being an important part of courtly culture.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, artists make choices in biographical shows for a whole variety of reasons, whether in service of the storytelling, to appease those who would prefer to remain anonymous or even self-protection.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
This year, the dinner also comes amid the backdrop of major major media companies staying silent or trying to appease the administration.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Grudda pushed Barkow's wheelchair through the zoo, her hands caressing her mother's shoulders or pointing out the animals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Electric Bleu is French food caressed with California seasonality and the occasional pop of Aussie nostalgia.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The decision reflected a common pattern in China's technology sector, where startups establish offshore corporate structures to access global capital and reassure foreign investors, and sometimes soften regulatory scrutiny while maintaining engineering talent and intellectual ties to the mainland.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
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This cult Japanese skincare-meets-makeup hybrid is an ultra-fine powder to even out skin tone, soften the look of pores, and reduce shine, leaving a translucent finish with subtle coverage.—
Anita Bhagwandas,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentle. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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