gift 1 of 2

gift

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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 gift has sparked bipartisan criticism, including from MAGA members, over ethical and national security concerns. Dan Gooding gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025 Some shoppers might want to keep an eye on Memorial Day sales to knock some gifts off a Christmas list. Susan Tompor, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Verb
The luxury Boeing 747 gifted to the U.S. government by Qatar is standing by at the San Antonio, Texas, airport, awaiting a specialized overhaul from a defense contractor so that President Trump can use it as the next Air Force One. Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 19 May 2025 The threat of expiration at the end of this year led many families to gift millions of dollars to their kids to take advantage of the exemption (which also applies to the gift tax). Robert Frank, CNBC, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • In 2019, the pair surprised an elementary school in Washington D.C. with charitable donations and $100,000.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 May 2025
  • On Tuesday at Colonial, Murray’s mother, father and sister will formally make a $20,000 donation to the Ben Hogan foundation; Hogan’s father died of suicide when the future legend of golf was 9.
    Mac Engel May 16, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • At the Democrat-Gazette, Dustin has cultivated strong connections within the local arts and entertainment community and finds joy in spotlighting the creative talents and inspiring stories of the region.
    Dustin Staggs, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2025
  • Former The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams and talent agent Dave Shapiro were both killed in a fatal plane crash in San Diego on May 22.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • In an Everton side that is not blessed with flair players, Ndiaye is the exception.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 20 May 2025
  • My wife, Gerda, and I have been blessed with three release dogs from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), the premier provider of service dogs in the U.S., with which we have been involved for decades.
    Dean Koontz, People.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • The girls club together to give her a toy train as a farewell present.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
  • Summer has plenty of occasions just right for a thoughtful present.
    Vulture Staff, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Dior has a knack for creating beauty products with explosive popularity.
    Claire Sullivan, Footwear News, 22 May 2025
  • But Smith, now 20, has a knack for showing up and lighting leagues on fire, having done it back home for North Toronto Nitros in 2022 and then in Portugal.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • According to the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, one of the unalienable rights we are endowed with is the right to life.
    Moti Mizrahi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025
  • Director David Cromer, whose sensibility gravitates between stark and dark, endows the staging with macabre elegance.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • One particular presentation that focused on Micro LED projection for AR glasses stood out.
    Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • Given that the show takes place in Taiwan, Huang's presentation is happening at an inconvenient time for US viewers.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Judging by the untended blisters on his knuckles and palms, however, Enzo doesn’t show much aptitude for it — to the extent that his supervisor drives the boy home one day to speak with his parents, surprised to discover that Enzo lives in a posh home with ocean views and a private pool.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 May 2025
  • Hiring focuses on ability and aptitude, in companies that are focused on growth.
    Chris Westfall, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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