gift 1 of 2

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
Could be quite the gift that falls into the Texas Rangers' closer-less lap. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025 Walt bought the 10-foot-tall stump at a tourist attraction called Pike’s Petrified Forest near Colorado Springs and presented it to Lillian as a joke gift for their 31st wedding anniversary. Greg Glasgow, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
But there was an unspoken understanding that certain employees were particularly gifted in specific genres of abuse, and so in training they would be partnered with—or would become, themselves—unofficial subject matter experts. Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2025 Our honest presumption is that these cast-offs will now go to help someone less fortunate—either sold by a charity shop, gifted to a homeless person, or sent overseas to clothe a refugee family. Charlie Campbell, Time, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Based on this language, an NIL collective that collects and shares donations with athletes in exchange for their commitment to a university would not be engaged in an activity with a valid business purpose.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Additionally, the recipient’s school music program will receive a $10,000 instrument donation to support continued music education.
    Thania Garcia, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Perhaps most intriguing is the prelim card's opening bout between submission guru Chase Hooper and wrestling talent Alexander Hernandez at lightweight.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Hines would have fit the bill–even without elite talent–but this development changes things.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Georgia is blessed with rich farmland, and its produce and livestock have always been the bedrock of how Atlanta cooks and eats.
    Pervaiz Shallwani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Despite taking up 13 whole minutes of a 49-minute run time, the sequence feels perfunctory, blessed with neither inventive choreography nor elegant camerawork and editing.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • At present, the ratio is more in keeping with a 90/10 split in favor of linear TV.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • At present, there are no details on the containment or cause of the fire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Her political ascent is credited in part to her knack for relationship building — a strength to which even political rivals attest.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Ina Garten is known for her elegant recipes, hosting know-how, and signature chambray tops, but she’s also got a knack for interior design.
    Toni Sutton, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • At least two faculty positions in early childhood education will be endowed with $4 million, while $200,000 will support faculty research and external grant development, Drale said.
    Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 1 Aug. 2025
  • To be sure, the U.S. has a huge domestic market and is richly endowed with natural resources.
    Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • One 2016 company presentation obtained by The Times revealed that cameras were known to be a valuable deterrent.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Prioritize In-Person Meetings Conflicts with investors are typically handled via emails, video calls and presentations.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In PCMark 10 Overall Storage, which measures a drive's aptitude in performing a series of everyday storage tasks, the T710 lags the T705 and most of the other Gen 5 drives.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Bond and bassist Zac Cockrell held down the low end with workmanlike aptitude, leaving plenty of room for bluesy fills, fuzz-distortion accents and pregnant pauses to enter undetected.
    Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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