gentleness

as in kindness
the quality of having a generally kind and agreeable manner The students quickly learned that despite their new teacher's gentleness, good grades had to be earned through hard work.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gentleness Vitamin C Derivatives: Modified versions sacrifice some potency for stability and gentleness. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 29 July 2025 Dave Bautista gives a quietly mesmerizing performance as Leonard—a hulking figure whose soft-spoken gentleness only heightens the unease—joined by a scruffily unnerving Rupert Grint and wrenching turns from Ben Aldridge and Jonathan Groff as the parents. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025 This is a time to tend to yourself with gentleness and honesty. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 27 July 2025 From Deadwood to Gone Girl, Sons of Anarchy to Briarpatch, Treme to Friday Night Lights, Dickens has long been a character actor who can, as Billie Eilish would say, hit hard and soft, exuding both soothing gentleness and no-nonsense authority. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gentleness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentleness
Noun
  • Our small kindnesses to each other.
    Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The most vulnerable among us deserve the most respect, most compassion, and most kindness.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This skillet cookie has the satisfying chewiness and sweetness of your favorite oatmeal cookie, just in a larger format.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Honey, normally a springtime flavor, serves here to give a warm sweetness to the apples and fresh lemon juice ensures the whole project doesn’t get too sweet.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Viewer Reactions Instagram users instantly flocked to the video, touched by Rusty's attentiveness and curiosity.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Both audiences can struggle with attentiveness, want to be led, and ultimately just want to have fun.
    Nina West September 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Black men are not given the patience, the dignity or the humanity afforded to others.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
  • But patience also is warranted with veteran linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who spoke this week of the challenges of returning to football after sustaining a torn Achilles and torn ACL in consecutive seasons.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Adding electrification provides both responsiveness and sustainability, marking Bugatti’s transition beyond its W16 heritage.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The firm combines the intellectual rigor of large firms with the responsiveness of a boutique.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Vučić also showed willingness to improve Serbia’s ties with neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina.
    Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
  • He was impressed by the network’s willingness to put him in touch with other small advertisers who bought commercial inventory.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Another red flag could be an advisor who pushes products without a firm understanding of your goals, risk tolerance and timeline.
    Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • That’s his tolerance for players who do not contribute without the ball.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There’s such generosity in the book.
    Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In an inspiring act of kindness and generosity, tournament angler Tripp Berlinsky turned the biggest win of his college fishing career into an opportunity to give back.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gentleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentleness. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gentleness

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!