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gentles 1 of 2

noun

plural of gentle
as in nobles
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gentles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gentle
1
as in appeases
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in caresses
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
3
as in softens
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentles
  1. nobles
  2. appeases
  3. caresses
  4. softens
  5. aristocrats
  6. soothes
  7. pats
  8. comforts
Noun
  • When it was closed down in 1539, its treasures, books and relics were seized and its lands and buildings sold off, some to local nobles and gentry, some to the town authorities of Bury.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In true Renaissance fashion, the two were surrounded by their yeomen, personal bodyguards to the nobles.
    — Rashad Alexander August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nobles
Verb
  • This way of handling stress occurs when someone acts calm, appeases the threatening person and retreats to de-escalate the situation.
    — Michele Patterson Ford, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The city’s first street food market appeases the vast spectrum of palates and preferences, from vegans' to meat-lovers', by featuring ten culinary traders who specialize in ethnic fare from Greece to the bayous of Louisiana.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of appeases
Verb
  • The Princess Diaries star smiles, caresses her belly, then ducks out of the frame.
    — Redazione People, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026
  • Those of us with a penchant for fashion have managed—not without effort—to put aside the knowing glances, caresses, and hugs to take in every detail of the look.
    — Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 7 June 2026
Definition of caresses
Verb
  • The formula pairs urea with moisturizing and barrier-supporting ingredients in a rich cream that softens dry hands and cuticles without leaving behind a greasy finish.
    — Danielle James, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2026
  • This allows the exterior to char while the interior softens to the perfect texture.
    — Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of softens
Noun
  • But a motley array of other people—advocates of free love, avant-garde painters, grifters fleecing ex-aristocrats—took advantage of the chaos to promote their own agendas.
    — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Most activities that were listed in this era, including hunting, fishing, golf, horse riding, and sailing, reflected an idealized version of rural life, carried out mostly by aristocrats at large country estates.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of aristocrats
Verb
  • The combination of liquid exfoliants gently boosts cell turnover and remove clogged pores, while tea tree leaf water hydrate and soothes.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Du says more work is needed to fully understand how music soothes a stressed brain.
    — Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of soothes
Verb
  • As another period begins, Achord pats Melton on the head and Melton pats his coach on the back.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Taken from their backside, the pair is seen carrying golf clubs as the former NSYNC star pats his son on the head.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pats
Verb
  • Seattle comforts you with its natural beauty, quieting your mind and heightening your senses.
    — Giovanna Caravetta, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In one scene, Maddie gently comforts an elderly man whose brother was killed at the Pentagon when hijackers struck the building.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of comforts
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.

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gentleperson
gentles
gentlewoman
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Cite this Entry

“Gentles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentles. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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