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
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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
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Water with a sprinkler or use a gentle shower setting on your hose.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 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
And his demented majesty has no intention of going gentle into that good night.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Water with a sprinkler or use a gentle shower setting on your hose.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 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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Those are paired with a soothing lineup of Centella asiatica, madecassoside, panthenol, and allantoin to keep skin balanced (as irritation can worsen pigmentation).—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
9 May 2026
-
Opt for Warm Lighting Harsh lighting is the opposite of soothing, says Brooks.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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The temperate weather in Southern Corsica allows the restaurant to be set completely outdoors.—
Rebekah Peppler,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
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In a temperate environment such as North Texas, where the growing season is long and the winters are mild, biological pressures are constant.—
Kody Boye,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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My father, a boy, sat in the back seat with his brothers and Choute—Duchess of Montmoreau, née de Troguindy, a beautiful and aristocratic woman who went by this single childhood nickname.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
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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
Adjective
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For her latest appearance on the red carpet, Riley Keough was drawn to something softer.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
For instance, as my soft secondaries and the receivers who’ll benefit most from them in fantasy football article detailed, this system grades a defensive back who allows a low yards per attempt (YPA) total but a high PPR fantasy points per game (FPPG) total as a favorable matchup.—
KC Joyner,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The son of Italian nobles, Baldassare Castiglione’s main claim to fame was writing a book of etiquette based on his experience as a courtier, a person who serves as an attendant to a king, queen, or other member of a royal family.—
René Ostberg,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
-
Mexican nobles couldn’t keep household help.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Its positions are so hostile to the West, even by the standards of Iran’s conservative hardliners, that the regime’s efforts to appease it have so far failed.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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What Musgraves is doing here is not like the bro-country guys who ease off trap drums to appease country traditionalists.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The couple posed for photos at the event, drawing attention to their gestating bundle of joy by framing and caressing Palvin’s belly.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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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
Verb
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Soaking sunflower seeds before planting can help with germination as this method softens the naturally hard outer layer of the seed.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 May 2026
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Justin Sullivan | Getty Images From Domino’s Pizza to Applebee’s, restaurant chains are reporting that sales softened in March as gas prices spiked.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentle. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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