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
The same is true of Shannon’s gift for eviscerating quips and Feimster’s talent for proudly shouting inappropriate things, both on full display. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026 The gift represents more than a 3 percent increase in the size of the museum’s holdings, which currently number in the region of 10,000 objects. Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 July 2026
Verb
The Padres were gifted two runs in the first inning when Yesavage could hardly throw a strike. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026 Blarney Castle is, of course, home to the legendary Blarney Stone—a block of limestone built into the castle that’s said to gift eloquence and persuasiveness to whoever kisses it. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • This week, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Miami Pine Rocklands Association, the South Florida Wildlands Association and the Tropical Audubon Society announced a $925,000 donation to Miami-Dade County to acquire more pineland.
    Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • Then there’s Sánchez Bezos, who has moved to the forefront of the couple’s philanthropic efforts, effectively steering a multibillion-dollar philanthropy while making other sizable donations to issues that matter to her.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • Adidas reportedly spent $67 million on its hero film, Backyard Legends, while Nike also splashed heavily on talent — Kim Kardashian, Kylian Mbappé, Central Cee, and LeBron James, among others — for its competing short, Rip the Script.
    Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 16 July 2026
  • The coaching staff thought the talent the team inherited, with the addition of a few bargain signings, was better than the numbers showed.
    Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Circe, who is blessed with some powers of insight, turns out to be right.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 17 July 2026
  • Even just one win in international football is superb, but the point about Deschamps is that he has been blessed with one of the most astonishing generations of talent the game has ever seen.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Through seven games of summer league, the Warriors’ forward of the future looks ready to be their answer to several questions facing the team’s uncertain present.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
  • Ginsburg misjudged an unknowable future; Biden failed to respond to a visible present.
    Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • Lessons on human resources being more company-oriented than human is another pearl of wisdom from Reddy, who clearly has a knack for corporate culture.
    David John Chávez, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
  • Our knack for accommodation increasingly looks like what evolutionary biologists call a maladaptation.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Official liberalism had long been almost inextricably identified with a picture of man as perfectible, as endowed with sufficient wisdom and selflessness to endure power and to use it infallibly for the general good.
    David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • He is endowed with the gift of making his characters seem not only credible but desirable, approachable, and human, thanks to his undeniable charm.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • During its CinemaCon presentation in April, it was revealed that the planned theatrical release date was slated for June 30, 2028.
    Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
  • In 2009, the Directors’ Guild and the Writers’ Guild objected when the TV Academy revealed a plan to pre-tape award presentations in eight categories before the show.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Valeri, who began playing at age 4 in his Buenos Aires suburb, said the futbol passion and aptitude run deep in a country where community pride infuses youth-club rivalries and street soccer prevails in many neighborhoods.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
  • King contrasted the country’s technological expertise with its moral aptitude.
    Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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