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
Some shower him with gifts, urging him to keep the exchanges secret. Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2026 On a day defined by unimaginable loss, Janet Kask was given the greatest gift of her life – her son. Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
Tchotchkes gifted by grateful clients prettied the pink cabinets and pink walls. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The viral moment became a topic of conversation for weeks after the show wrapped, with Rausch also gifting her a Birkin Bag as an apology for betraying her on the show. ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Follower donations and a sponsorship from Sticker Savages helped keep the project funded.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Sticker donations from followers and a sponsorship from Sticker Savages helped fund the effort.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The development is being supported through public-private partnerships focused on longer-term priorities including talent development, housing and equal opportunity in the Brainport region.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Everything gets harder from here, even next week against Old Dominion, but the Hokies sent a pretty clear message that the talent has been substantially upgraded and this won’t be a bottom-of-the-standings ACC team again.
    The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Charlotte is blessed with a bounty of bakeries stocking fresh cakes, cupcakes, croissants and other treats to soothe your sweet tooth.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Not for nothing has White Barn Inn been blessed with just about every hospitality and dining award possible—from the endless applause of regional magazines and AAA five diamond ratings to a spot on Traveler's Gold List.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Johnson’s route variety and chunk-gain capability present a significant coverage challenge.
    Brad Evans, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Voters who prize the observational and the sincere tend to bristle at a movie where the filmmaker is this present and this implicated.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The stellar point guard has always had a knack for either finding the bottom of the net or dishing assists to her teammates to get the job done.
    Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Dodgers should sit Raman in their dugout come playoff time, because her knack for rallying from behind is almost preternatural.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The show was considered an outlier in its generally sympathetic take on Hill and his conservative views, as well as in terms of the agency with which the show’s creators endowed its working- and middle-class characters.
    Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Waqf— an irrevocable endowment under Islamic law — can endow health, education, and other public goods over generations; they can’t be dismantled unlike government aid budgets.
    Alaa Murabit, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • As some selectors are being eliminated so is the traditional system of presentation.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The road to the end of the very long Emmy season takes place over most of your Labor Day holiday weekend with the two-night presentation of what were formerly called the Creative Arts Emmy Awards but now are simply being called the Emmy Awards.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Lewis-Skelly has shown an aptitude for more 360-degree defending and dropping to protect his centre-backs and goalkeeper.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • How could King draw with such aptitude and still struggle to talk?
    Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 11 Sep. 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