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
Tesla's fall from grace leaves room for Chinese EVs to devour market share and dominate the U.S. in the EV space. Charles Singh, USA Today, 7 May 2025 On the soccer field Charlotte is known for her grace and sportsmanship — often seen congratulating players on the opposing team. Simon Perry, People.com, 6 May 2025
Verb
Kim Kardashian, Zendaya, Colman Domingo and Whoopi Goldberg were just a few of the other celebrities who graced the red carpet. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 6 May 2025 Maryland natives will grace the red carpet, as likely designers, attendees and hosts. Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for grace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grace
Noun
  • The results might not be visible immediately, but the children who are supported by the generosity of Build-a-Bear are more likely to become productive members of their communities — and perhaps continue passing along the kindness to others.
    Jaime Catmull, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
  • Thousands of TikTok users were moved by their reunion and began sharing their own stories of silent kindness from strangers.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • Her experience as a caregiver has infused her art with elegance, richness, and deep compassion.
    Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 9 May 2025
  • Adichie commanded the carpet with elegance and purpose.
    Essence, Essence, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Coker and Moore have the advantage in roles department, while Chisena has the advantage with special teams.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
  • The Mavericks won the flip, earning the 0.1% advantage that incredibly resulted in their propulsion to the top of the order for the June 25 draft in New York.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Nowadays, however, the ease isn’t a compelling enough reason to adorn our walls with it.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
  • Scott, 34, is the latest musician to adorn the Catalan club’s kit for a La Liga fixture against rivals Madrid as part of their sponsorship deal with Spotify.
    Leon Imber, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Son Brendan was murdered with a chainsaw on Richie Stevenson’s orders while Seraphina screamed for mercy next to her half-brother; Richie had a livestream of the grisly event sent to Maeve’s phone.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 May 2025
  • This hilarious odyssey of a parched protagonist reminds us that sometimes our relative sacrifices for the greater good can be tempered by small mercies along the way.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • What’s most important is to take it all in: the place, its majesty and its importance.
    Caroline Eubanks, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Her majesty, the queen, is here.
    Jack Howland, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • For me, there is a clear distinction between the propaganda films of the Islamic Republic and the films that are made under the constraints of censorship.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 May 2025
  • Leigh’s treatment of the masquerade likewise dissolves distinctions between subject and object: An encrusted head sans face atop a raffia dome functions neither as a fully articulated human form nor as an abstract sculpture.
    Delinda Collier, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Unlike typical vehicles, this car is designed to be decorated, and Blippi selects colors to personalize it.
    Annabelle Canela, Parents, 2 May 2025
  • Future chefs and home cooks will learn to cook, bake and decorate, all from scratch.
    Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 1 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grace. Accessed 18 May. 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!