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
Now, the Gates Foundation is stepping in to help fund scientific research through an historic $540 million gift to The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an independent research organization at the University of Washington. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 Graza’s first Partnership Ads test ran around the New Year, built on gift giving and resolutions. Jamie Gutfreund, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
The Astros threatened to score against Houser in the sixth but instead gifted him a ridiculous 6-5-4-5 double play thanks to questionable baserunning by not one, but two runners. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 But after Sunglass Hut gifted me a pair to test on three different vacations, I am officially obsessed. Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • The settlement plan also includes a pledge by the school to provide a statement to the claimant families condemning Lodge's criminal acts, and to detail improvements made to the organ donation program.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Lakefront staff then will send donations to the Washington Township Adult Center, which has been used as an American Red Cross shelter since the weekend.
    John Tufts, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The backstory Once upon a time, there was a Spanish family blessed with a talent for finding historic buildings and transforming them into hotels that anyone who admires beauty and nature would want to visit.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The Crusaders graduated a lot of talent from last year’s squad, but should get healthy against the Seahawks.
    Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • America is blessed to have billionaire entrepreneurs who accomplish such things.
    Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • So a team at Anthropic thought Claude, free of mortality and blessed with superhuman invulnerability to boredom, should have a go.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The judges also disallowed her inquest testimony, which had been given without an attorney present.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Their manager, Sébastien Collin, compares the experience to picking which Christmas present to open.
    Josh Martin, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Mickey is a private investigator with a knack for solving cases and a former LAPD cop whose life imploded three years ago.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The inside linebacker is smart, physical, instinctive, can cover and has a knack for creating turnovers.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Someone who might have the answers is fan-favorite franchise staple Elise (Lin Shaye), a medium who commutes between both worlds, here via the body of a tattoo artist (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) endowed with paranormal gifts.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026
  • When a Columbus nursing home that served aging African Americans was sold, a resulting gift endowed the Isabelle Ridgway Foundation, a supporting organization of the Columbus Foundation.
    Laura MacDonald, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The first concept art for the film was revealed during the Disney Entertainment Showcase presentation at the D23 fan event Friday, along with some new plot details.
    Mya Copeland, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Don’t expect crazy flavors or fussy, over-the-top presentation; just excellent home-style baking where taste supersedes everything else.
    Kyle Beechey, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • However, the Jets feel that Klubnik has good mental processing and the aptitude for explosive plays downfield.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Many of its rites can be performed by anyone, but there have often been individuals with a special aptitude for and knowledge of these practices.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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