gift 1 of 2

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
If the gift recipient doesn’t mind a bright print, opt for the flowering paisley goji berry, marked down to just $43. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026 The ocean’s gifts of mercy are the scent of food and the mucus trails of her ancestors. Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
At some point after the interaction with authorities, Colin Gray gifted his son an AR-15-style rifle, according to law enforcement sources. Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026 Ungifted in school, gifted on stage Robert Selden Duvall grew up in the Navy towns of Annapolis and the San Diego area, where he was born in 1931. Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Universities may require more substantive checks on all donations independent of size and source.
    Brian Herman, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The committee had yet to report any donations or expenditures.
    Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • All while Bhatia and the Højgaard twins prove themselves at age 24, and while Coody, Gerard and 23-year-old Japanese talent Ryo Hisatsune have gotten off to hot starts.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The omakase experience is delightful, and Shinya Takahashi's talent is impressive—almost as impressive as the fact that he's taught himself English in a couple of years via watching YouTube videos (all while raising five children).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • So far, the closest person the 2020s have to fill that slot is Glen Powell, a native of the Lone Star State blessed with a smile that melts butter and and aw-shucks amiability.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The health tech crew has found a way to monetize our heartbeat, God bless ‘em.
    Zach Przystup, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The Troubles, which ended in 1998, the year Ní Chuinn was born, sing the same plain and painful tune as our present.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • For expert gift-givers, it’s also equipped for wrapping presents and giving packages a professional look.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Garland’s knack for moving the ball and creating points off the dribble should help a Clippers team that enters this season’s stretch run ranked 25th in assist percentage.
    Law Murray, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • At least Stijn Verhoeven and Ewa Mroczkowska’s nuanced production design for the interiors, including bourgeois homes full of kitschy knick-knacks, anonymous office spaces and frigidly austere villas, tell a story of their own about the material culture of the era.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • It is endowed with some of the richest mineral supplies on earth, including some 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, as well as huge reserves of copper and a Mendeleevian constellation of other metals.
    Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
  • And Salieri seems more of hybrid creature, as though a villain out of Christopher Marlowe had suddenly been endowed with Shakespearean self-awareness.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Davidson himself attended the BAFTA Awards and his frequent, involuntary outbursts punctuated host Alan Cumming’s introduction and several of the early award presentations.
    Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Under the direction of House Culinary Advisor Chef Ricardo Chaneton, the menu takes cues from the coasts of Italy, France, and Spain, balancing comforting flavors with refined presentations.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • People would generally agree that of all the mainstream country stars out there now, no one surpasses you as far as really having an appreciation and aptitude for bluegrass.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
  • That requires a certain mental aptitude.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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