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
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Consumers are hoping for more travel and experiences this holiday season, but physical gifts continue to win the lion’s share of their wallets, according to a new report from Visa on Thursday. — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026 The brief, 10-minute meeting was private, during which the two exchanged gifts. — Alfredo Toriello, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
My oldest gifted me a bouquet of red roses made out of Legos. — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 2 Nov. 2026 Olivia Rodrigo fans are getting an early Christmas present this year, with the pop star gifting them her first-ever holiday song in just a few days. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • In his campaign, Piper highlighted affordability and the need for county government to be less swayed by the political donations incumbents receive from the lobbyists, vendors and developers that populate Miami-Dade’s donor circuit.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Thompson has criticized the self-funding, while Jones has fired back by pointing at the incumbent’s history of accepting corporate donations.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Other Caller alumni suggested to Semafor that the recent pivot could threaten what in the last decade has become an important talent pipeline and incubator for the right.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The annual tribute dinner format will change, too, with host Guy Fieri celebrating two decades of Food Network talent that have shaped the festival.
    — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Through the spring and summer the forest in this mountain backcountry had been blessed with abundant rainfall and the wild creatures were busy reaping the berries, seeds and other browse.
    — Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 5 Nov. 2026
  • God blessed the chance to work in that beautiful city, a very historical football team, a ton of history there.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • This discovery set is the ideal present for a friend who wants a scent no one else has, or your pal who went to Osaka this year and hasn’t stopped talking about it since.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 6 Nov. 2026
  • However, deciding what deserves storage presents a challenge.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The media and the fanbase, Splitter believes, have a knack for latching onto minutiae, extrapolating a short trend into potential disaster down the line.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Unfortunately for us, those tenants have evolved a sticky knack for evading eviction, creating a webbing known as biofilm that prevents them from being easily licked or swallowed away.
    — Mike McRae, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The following year, John Nau III’s foundation gave $15 million to endow the Karsh Institute.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The family endowed the scholarship with a donation of $25,000, but after news of Tom’s death spread, someone asked her about contributing to the fund.
    — Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • This upcoming milestone 40th presentation will mark an especially meaningful moment in the American Cinematheque’s history, celebrating both the remarkable legacy of the award and the organization’s enduring contributions to cinema.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Underneath the incredibly good-looking presentation is basically the exact same game that first came out in 1998.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The Duke then entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, where his aptitude for foreign languages was recognized with a prize.
    — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Naturally, his work at Celine has now been put in conversation with hers, especially because both designers share an aptitude for creating clothes real people want to wear–and, therefore, many of the same fans.
    — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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