Synonyms of gentle

gentle 1 of 3

adjective

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