Definition of giftnext

gift

2 of 2

verb

as in to bless
to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute gifted with an uncanny ability to persuade people to do things they ordinarily wouldn't

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun gift differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gift are aptitude, bent, faculty, genius, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When can aptitude be used instead of gift?

The words aptitude and gift can be used in similar contexts, but aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

How do bent and aptitude relate to one another, in the sense of gift?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

Where would faculty be a reasonable alternative to gift?

In some situations, the words faculty and gift are roughly equivalent. However, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

When could genius be used to replace gift?

The meanings of genius and gift largely overlap; however, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When would knack be a good substitute for gift?

Although the words knack and gift have much in common, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

In what contexts can talent take the place of gift?

The synonyms talent and gift are sometimes interchangeable, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

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 gift
Noun
The rifle was a gift from my mother, given to him before I was born. — John B. Snow, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026 The two held a private meeting with aides in the Oval Office after participating in a military review in the Rose Garden and exchanging gifts in the Blue Room. — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
If the portfolio performs significantly better than expected, spending or gifting could potentially increase. — Robert Cannon, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 That’s according to Guinness World Records, which acknowledges the feat and gifted Harris a special certificate. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Birdies for Brain Health will continue to grow in 2027 with donations made for each birdie recorded by golfers at FedEx Cup Playoffs and PGA Tour signature events.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The Uihleins have occasionally split their donations between Republicans during primaries.
    — Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Jacquis declares that his talent is hubris and arm-wrestles Ify.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Belichick's relatively late arrival in the 2025 recruiting process did nothing to fill in the talent gap between the Tar Heels and the rest of the ACC in the first year of his tenure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Lange, bless her, lends some stability to this narratively shaky material through her performance, effectively conveying a mix of vulnerability and grit as Constance.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Natalia believes everyone has a role in the Morales family and works to preserve their respected name – God bless anyone who gets in her way.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The Sun, who now begin the process of relocating to Houston for next season, gave their loyal, vociferous and orange-clad fans a goodbye present, a 95-81 victory over the Toronto Tempo, just a little something to remember them by.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Each square contains a solid milk chocolate treat shaped like presents, mini santas, mini snowmen or mini toy soldiers.
    — Tim Chan, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Still, her knack for collecting polished, easy-to-style shoes that are comfortable enough to stand in all day exceeds even my own abilities.
    — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The company actually has a knack for producing some really interesting go-karts.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Some Fascists admired Japan’s use of Shinto shrines and ritual to endow its militaristic nationalism with spiritual power.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 22 Sep. 2026
  • That we, as human beings, have been endowed with the ability to channel that creativity fills me with a sense of awe and wonder.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The welcome ceremony also included a flyover by two B-1 bombers, platoons from each military service, and a presentation of the flags and anthems of both countries.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
  • IvyCraft is designed for researchers, students, educators, content creators, consultants, and teams that regularly turn source material into presentations, videos, podcasts, or visual content.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But their aptitude and affection for the sport would be passed down through two different families in two different states, from one generation to the next, before reaching Luke and his brothers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Training can improve technique and consistency, but leaders should also be honest about the role of natural aptitude.
    — Matthew Darienzo, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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