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
The military has such a prominent presence in Israeli society that soldiers receive gifts, coupons and discounts on books, benefits not given to the elderly, the disabled, or students. Uriel Kon september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025 Some parents have gone so far as to make gift bags to pass out to their fellow passengers as a pre-apology for a crying baby—a totally unnecessary gesture that forces stressed-out parents to take responsibility for the emotional reactions of adults who should be able to control themselves. Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Just a day before kickoff, the Eagles great gifted a 2023 Toyota Camry to Keskel Yatrofsky, who is currently serving in the United States Air Force. Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Among them were the Zelma Zesta, a Southern legacy bean passed to him in 1981 by his wife’s uncle in a plastic sandwich bag, and a melon seed gifted by his friend Jim Kibler, later identified as a genetic match to Odell’s White, a historic melon grown during the Civil War. Lila Hempel-Edgers, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Political donation records list his home in Oregon as recently as late 2023.
    Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Admission for the game is free, but donations are welcome.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Leeds are tipped to survive the drop after adding Premier League experience and European talent to their ranks.
    Jack Bantock, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Bhutia is part of India's digital growth story that is creating entrepreneurs, drawing investments, and attracting global tech giants, fueled in large part by a gigantic talent pool and tech userbase.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If instead the corporation digs in, further empowering the unwitting wreckers and saboteurs — well, bless their hearts.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • God bless, and God save the wrist.
    Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • At present, there are no details on the containment or cause of the fire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Far from being relegated to America’s past, educational inequality is part of our present.
    Time, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But will the bill come due on these escapes, not just against the Chargers but with their remarkable knack of winning one-score games?
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Shaq has a knack for turning star power into accessible ventures, whether that’s in fashion, food, or now fragrance.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Many wealthy individuals have fallen ill and subsequently endowed medical facilities.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • But despite its demure monochrome appearance, the heavy weight of the 18-karat Canopus Gold case and bracelet will endow you with a very different feeling than its steel equivalent.
    Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Tejasvi's finalist presentation of Shield Seniors at the Texas High School Ideas Challenge, hosted by the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship, Texas A&M.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • FiiO claims the result is a sonic presentation that combines technical accuracy with a sense of warmth and a natural flow that’s good for analytical listening as well as long musical sessions.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Herbert’s top-10 aptitude would’ve exposed Olave to fewer dangerous hits.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
  • This leads him to discover an unexpected aptitude for cracking safes, turning his life upside down.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

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