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
Finally, don't miss tech gifts under $50, like a label maker, a digital camera keychain and a portable Bluetooth speaker. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 But the gracious gift proved to be a deadly hazard that killed Zion Maine and left his father, two teen brothers and stepmom critically hurt. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
In 2025, the nonprofit was gifted a 116-acre property in Potter Valley, California, that is being used as a donkey sanctuary. — Brayden Garcia october 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026 Others gifted each other with durable underwear to protect their bodily autonomy postmortem. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 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
  • His eight-song set, which I was blessed to experience firsthand, was sparsely arranged—the accompaniment amounted to a set of brass bells, a bass guitar, and Cox’s trusty SP-404—yet transfixing all the same.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026
  • After Mass, Cardinal Blase Cupich blessed a delegation traveling to Rome to meet with Pope Leo.
    — Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Container of shredded beef dated 10/5 present in walk-in cooler.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The new spot captures the viral social trend of disguising presents in unanticipated ways through a series of unexpected gift exchanges where the items are wrapped to look like something entirely different.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • LaBute was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay, which in and of itself should be a marker of the film’s quality given the Razzies’ consistent knack for being on the wrong side of history.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Everette has a knack for scoring important touchdowns, and when’s facing circumstances that qualify as either make or break, his exact mindset borders on being unstoppable.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 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
  • Users can scroll through webpages, pinch to zoom in on photos, drag and drop slides between presentations, and move windows around the screen using touch gestures.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • This year was the first time Lorena Silva and her sisters put together their own presentation at Hollywood Forever, after collaborating with their aunt for the previous eight years.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster