grace 1 of 2

1
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance in Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables, Jean Valjean's decision to go to jail for the man mistaken for him is a grace that goes beyond thanks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth as if taste were not enough, red wine has the added grace of being healthy for the heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grace

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun grace differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of grace are charity, clemency, leniency, and mercy. While all these words mean "a disposition to show kindness or compassion," grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions.

by the grace of God

When is charity a more appropriate choice than grace?

In some situations, the words charity and grace are roughly equivalent. However, charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others.

show a little charity for the less fortunate

When is it sensible to use clemency instead of grace?

While in some cases nearly identical to grace, clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing.

the judge refused to show clemency

In what contexts can leniency take the place of grace?

While the synonyms leniency and grace are close in meaning, leniency implies lack of severity in punishing.

criticized the courts for excessive leniency

When might mercy be a better fit than grace?

The words mercy and grace can be used in similar contexts, but mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

threw himself on the mercy of the court

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 grace
Noun
Their strength, sacrifice, and grace are what fuel me. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Aug. 2025 Over the next two weeks, Hooker will look to work his way back into his head coach's good graces. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Miss Congeniality It’s been 25 years since this comedy graced our screens. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025 Season three also introduced Phylicia Rashad as Brian Stokes, who will hopefully continue to grace our screens in season four as Elizabeth and Frederick Kirkland. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grace
Noun
  • These companies show that kindness and innovation go hand in hand.
    Nav Thethi, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • While the internet isn't necessarily known for its joy and kindness, Wylie has been blown away by the response since sharing the video on TikTok.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • While the episode follows Deborah after walking away from her Late Night series, the backdrop and elegance of Singapore follows both characters as Deborah attempts to do standup in a Singapore casino using a translator.
    Leia Mendoza, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
  • A touch of flaky sea salt brings effortless elegance and flair.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Do rules reflect actual AI usage patterns among teens? Equity Access: Can all students access the same AI tools, or do policies create advantages for families with premium subscriptions?
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Injuries prompted the 49ers to start a patchwork defensive front, and Geno Smith took advantage from the jump with a play-action pass that found Brock Bowers for a 28-yard gain down the right sideline against safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The set comes with 60 lined stationery sheets and 30 matching envelopes, all adorned with 10 distinctive floral designs in soft pastel shades.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Meals are served on bone china, atop crisp white linens, with each table adorned with a handcrafted vau flower from Fiji.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In other words, a school district could be at the mercy of a single extreme individual.
    Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Turning the contours of Maryland’s eight congressional districts over to the whims of state legislators in Alabama, Idaho or Utah is putting the sanctity of the votes cast by hard-working Marylanders at the mercy of politicians no registered voter in Maryland has ever heard of.
    Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • As totality transforms the Arctic sky, you'll be positioned in some of Earth's most spectacular and remote landscapes—from the dramatic mountains of Spitsbergen to the world's largest fjord system at Scoresby Sound, and the volcanic majesty of Jan Mayen Island.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • More admired than beloved, the show has extended an open challenge to theater artists drawn to the sophisticated majesty of Brown’s Tony-winning score but daunted by the expansive scope of Uhry’s Tony-winning book.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Food makers argue that this distinction demonstrates that titanium dioxide is not like other dyes.
    Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2025
  • This distinction arose not just from a difference in age, but from a difference in responsibility.
    Vogue, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The food containers are all decorated with whimsical illustrations, and the bag even features a crossword puzzle with McDonaldland trivia.
    Erin Clements, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Here's a helpful guide for all of your 2025 Idea House decorating inspiration.
    Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grace. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on grace

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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