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
Winfrey pointed to her own childhood in Mississippi as formative in her desire to provide for the audience, recalling a Christmas when her family had no presents before nuns turned up to her house with gifts. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 June 2026 Here are 10 gifts to buy for yourself and your favorite home spaces next weekend, with Forbes Vetted buying guides for the more premium items on the list. Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
Another image showed a massive bouquet of roses presumably gifted to her by Barker for their fourth wedding anniversary. Hannah Malach, InStyle, 16 June 2026 Their parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William, were gifted a pair of Jellycats at a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace last May, and the couple couldn't wait to pass them on to their kids. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones has raised millions, including helping to get $800,000 in donations to fund a replica of a historic ship for the maritime museum in his San Diego district.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • In a social media post, Lehman asked the community to come help support the store by asking for donations, asking people to shop at their store or online.
    Ray Campos, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Argentina capped the night with a shutout against Algeria and with all three goals belonging to their maestro, as Messi reminded the world of his unique talents.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Looking back, Llamas credits his rise not to exceptional talent but to persistence, preparation, and a willingness to advocate for himself.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • But there is something about catching a wild fish in its native environment, and in this country, we are blessed with an abundance of places to do just that.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026
  • God bless the United States of America.
    Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Even as the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence − a celebration of the founding of the world's oldest modern constitutional democracy − most Americans are mired in dissatisfaction with the nation's present and pessimism about its future.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • Strong attendance and lots of donations are the best housewarming presents Executive Director Pam Klaus could hope for.
    Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • Ozzy was the frontman, the mad man, the comedian, with an uncanny knack of instantly conjuring the perfect vocal for each song.
    Steve Appleford, SPIN, 17 June 2026
  • Michelle Obama has long demonstrated a knack for conveying messages through her clothing, and her outfit on Tuesday poignantly exemplified her mastery of this skill.
    Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Libraries were endowed by industrial fortunes and the robber barons.
    The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
  • One of the main focuses of support for the campaign is to endow staff positions.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • The production had previously set a June 4 release date before rescheduling to allow for completion of international distribution partnerships following a CinemaCon presentation that generated significant distributor interest.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 June 2026
  • Coffin ended his presentation on an optimistic note.
    Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • The future of talent acquisition will require hiring more for aptitude, adaptability and leadership potential—and less for perfectly linear résumés.
    Dr. Milpha Blamo, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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