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
Poor guy might have to go out and buy a gift just to keep the peace. Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026 Heated Rivalry fans are once again being blessed with the gift of physical media. Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Verb
Bethenny Frankel celebrated her daughter Bryn's 16th birthday by gifting her a pink car. Hannah Malach, InStyle, 9 June 2026 Not the one that gifted Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • The Bee reviewed Vang’s local filings dating back to her initial election in 2020, which showed that her campaign donated $9,000 between 2023 and 2025 to Sacramento nonprofit Gifts To Share, which allows people to earmark donations to the Heart and Hustle Scholarship via its website.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
  • Their donations to elect like-minded officials has led to a rapid growth of states with new or expanded voucher plans, including Texas and New Hampshire.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Sports-loving Kim has re-committed to developing athletic talent as a tool to promote North Korea internationally, according to a report by South Korea’s Unification Ministry.
    Andrew McNicol, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
  • Fans and former costars alike flooded social media with outpourings of appreciation for his talent and grief at his death.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • Timothée Chalamet stays blessed.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 29 May 2026
  • Prior to the meeting, dancers in Indigenous garments blessed organizers and local students, who led a procession from the nearby Alum Rock Youth Center on White Road to the district’s offices around the corner.
    Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • This approach to archival material thus wrestles with a disturbing present in which family dispossession is both normalized and pathologized in the media every single day.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • The proposal is preliminary, which means the final product could be different than what is being floated at present.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Now, Musiala is 23 and one of the best young players in the world, an attacking midfielder who’s a magician with the ball at his feet, who also has a knack for finding the back of the net.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 June 2026
  • More than any other character he’s created, Stallone has an uncanny knack for knowing what makes Rocky, and the characters that orbit him, really tick.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • Rick is tightly scheduled, punctilious to a fault, endowed with verbal wit that gently but firmly shapes and smooths social interactions.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
  • Evolution has therefore endowed these sites with an incredibly high capacity for regeneration.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • To jumpstart the week of sessions and forums centered around technology and design, Apple will host a keynote presentation, announcing the latest software and products coming to users.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 7 June 2026
  • Still, presentation decks and valuation models are broadly accepted as a necessary learning tool.
    Meg Short, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Noun
  • The North Korean players’ physical aptitude was clear, but coaches were aware of their technical and tactical shortcomings.
    Andrew McNicol, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
  • But while Josh is a magnet for easy jabs about NPR tote bags and Sierra Club memberships, there’s almost nothing in his storylines to suggest an aptitude for or even interest in the work of actual journalism.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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