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
Harvard last week received almost 4,000 gifts online totaling more than $1.1 million in the wake of its battle with the Trump administration, according to reporting from The Harvard Crimson. Hayley Cuccinello,robert Frank, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025 And perhaps that is his gift: not to leave us undisturbed, but to leave us changed. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
A week later at Ipswich, Arsenal were gifted the perfect opportunity to practise their new routines with a man advantage. Art De Roché, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025 The gifting bundle retails for $110 on the official UrbanStems website. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Rather than having the federal government foot the whole bill, in the U.S. public media also relies on $1.3 billion in annual charitable donations from viewers, listeners, corporations and foundations.
    Josh Shepperd, The Conversation, 2 May 2025
  • Greene is trying to make up the difference through donations.
    James Pollard, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • The New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox are all loaded with talent and have the potential to contend this season.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Listen to this article 2 min Kate Middleton demonstrated a hidden talent while on a royal trip to Scotland with her husband, Prince William.
    Elizabeth Stanton, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The visit was incredibly successful: the Pope was greeted by half of Timor-Leste’s population, blessing hundreds of thousands, having just visited three countries before arriving.
    Mandeep Rai, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • At 6ft 4in (193cm), O’Reilly is a physical presence both defending and attacking set pieces, something City are not especially blessed with, particularly with Rodri and Haaland out.
    Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • At present, France still accounts for two-thirds of the company’s turnover.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Korean drama Weak Hero is doing well at #6 at present, and has a stellar 91% audience score.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • So often during their rise to becoming one of the NHL’s top teams during the past few years, the Florida Panthers have shown a knack for rallying late.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Michelle Gage Interiors has a knack for breathing new life into historic homes, including a 1787 farmhouse in New Jersey and an 1800s town house in Rittenhouse Square.
    Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Entities magically endowed with life by the gods are not a rarity in Greek myth.
    Sofia Giannuzzi, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
  • As mutually recognized great powers, members of the Concert were endowed with special rights and responsibilities to mitigate destabilizing conflicts in the European system.
    Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The tobacco era style of Daniels’ Allen & Ginter Mini Autograph card has a museum-like presentation with his signature directly on the card.
    Tyler Holzhammer, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • The students also learn proper knife skills, the importance of measuring correctly and all the steps in recipe and menu preparation and presentation.
    Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • However, regardless of his aptitude for the sport, Agassi is unlikely to be pursuing full-time pro status anytime soon.
    Amy Woodyatt, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
  • Prior to his seventh birthday, Prince Louis seemingly showed his own aptitude for photography.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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