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
And George Balanchine, the artistic director of the New York City Ballet, was one of the first to recognize Allegra’s gifts. Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025 Gratitude journals are perfect as fall gifts or just to record your own favorite moments of the season. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Travel Lounge Hollywood The exclusive, invitation-only gifting lounge curated by Peta Phipps (publisher and editor-in-chief of Caribbean Living and Swanky Retreats) returns for a one-day-only event, offering up Casa de Campo escapes, private jet perks, golf, luxe bags and loungewear. Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025 Gray began the inning by walking Drew Gilbert and Knizner, gifting San Francisco a rally. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • The United States and Europe have overseen the donation of munitions, supplies, and money to the war effort.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Old lotions and bath products do not belong in the donation bin because thrift stores can't resell them for health and hygiene reasons.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Bronx Bombers could add talent in free agency, especially considering the Yankees might lose Cody Bellinger this winter.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Then the focus automatically becomes about engaging a diverse slate of talent that can evolve thinking and generate unconventional solutions.
    Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And may God bless the United States of America.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
  • It is blessed with a huge territory, a dynamic economy and the strategic luxury of large oceans on its east and west and much smaller powers to its north and south.
    John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • At present, there is no available information on the containment or cause of the fire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • But the problem textile waste presents to the United States is very acute.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Science has a knack for giving us answers, but sometimes its best trick is leaving us with better questions.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • His knack for being able to disappear and resurface with a whole new identity led authorities to dub him the Chameleon Killer.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This notion—all men endowed with equal, inherent worth—sparked the Western journey toward justice and liberty.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Constitution endows Congress with the authority to do just that, if only the body could be motivated to act.
    Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The forum offered a full day of programming with panels, fireside chats and presentations featuring leaders from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Statista and UMass Memorial Health.
    Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Venue selection and presentation format innovation demonstrated brands' increasing emphasis on experiential marketing over traditional runway shows.
    Kaleigh Moore, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Chiefs have an aptitude problem.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

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