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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentles
Noun
-
Past the violin was an oil painting of the child Mozart entertaining nobles at the Maison du Temple.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026 -
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
Verb
-
The menu appeases a multitude of appetites.—
Tom Sietsema,
Washington Post,
17 Jan. 2026
-
The discharge petition comes as Republicans have failed to put a plan for healthcare forward that appeases all of their caucus, as a small group seeks to work across the aisle for a solution.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Wilhelm enters the room, removes most of his clothing and gets into bed with her, slaps her, pushes her away and then caresses her face and cradles her.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
And through all this, Saariaho’s elaborately beautiful orchestration scintillates, jabs, caresses, and swerves, giving all that vivid misery a sheen of lyric glamour.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Due to its semi-transparency, the facade invites the shifting sky and the green hues of the surrounding forest canopy into the interior, creating an environment that softens the line between inside and out.—
Bridget Borgobello
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
-
Back in April, Bieber debuted a vanilla French glaze manicure thats softens the sharp contrast of a typical French mani.—
Charley Ross,
Glamour,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Both aristocrats completed their outfits with Sahag Arslanian jewelry.—
Séraphine Roger,
Vanity Fair,
23 May 2026
-
Intriguingly, the 140 selections on view, ranging from vases to books, Buddhist figurines to landscape painting, literati desk accessories to official portraiture, look nothing at all like the art favored by European aristocrats arrayed elsewhere in the Art Institute.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Though more popular for your skin, when applied to your scalp and strands, the ingredient sloughs off buildup, soothes irritation, reduces dandruff, and controls oil production.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
-
Apply that same logic to pimple patches, and you’re left with an acne sticker that soothes redness and inflammation, and removes impurities overnight.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Mama pats Rafa’s head then ruffles his hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Tuanzebe buries his head in Bakambu’s neck and pats his back repeatedly.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
This hearty chicken chili comforts those nursing wintertime sniffles.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
-
Near the front of the hospital, a nurse comforts a man trapped beneath an SUV.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Gentles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentles. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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