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

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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
The collection was designed with the grace of ballet in mind, continuing to build on Louboutin’s passion for dance, which has been a source of inspiration for him since his days as an intern at Les Folies Bergère in Paris. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025 Trump looks like Netanyahu blindsided him, Netanyahu is forced to apologize, and Qatar restores Israel to its lukewarm graces. Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Just one month after gracing the cover of Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players issue, Thomas has officially announced his next musical project, PHOLKS. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025 October Magic® Ivory™ Camellia from the Southern Living Plant Collection is among the earliest camellias to bloom, gracing the garden with creamy white, fully double blooms from September through October. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grace
Noun
  • But thanks to a free tool called Love Lost and the kindness of a good neighbor, Louie is back home safe and sound.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • For her kindness and friendship, for her humour and irrepressible enthusiasm, for her curiosity, for her courage, and for her profound love of animals.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The pieces strike a balance between effortless cool and elegance.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Our Matte Black Metal Candle Warmer Lamp features a modern black shade with a gold-tone accent, adding elegance to any space.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Securing the Shield ensures the top seed for Philly and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs for a team that has quietly gone about a consistent season without grabbing much in the way of attention.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • For today’s leaders, this means approaching every critical business decision with a mindset that considers how AI can deliver a competitive advantage.
    Derya Matras, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The egg itself sits on a rock-crystal base, which is shaped like a block of melting ice and adorned with even more diamonds and platinum.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Stretching to the pointed edge of the property is a 62-foot-long rectangular infinity pool adorned with mosaic tiles in swirling shapes that mimic the greenish glow of bioluminescence.
    Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And, Ben carried out his instructions with precision and without mercy.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Notre Dame is at the mercy of the committee no matter what.
    David Ubben, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Autumn Perkins, who lives in Middletown, Ohio, visited a Starbucks location inside Kroger and run by Kroger to order the mint majesty with two honeys.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Photographers interested in capturing the majesty of the night sky should read our roundup of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But an important distinction that also remains murky is input versus output.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The key distinction is that those founders built wealth by focusing on increasing the value of their existing equity stakes, while taking minimal or no compensation, rather than seeking massive equity grants on top of their founder stakes, said Hoffmann.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Look to flea market finds to decorate with your harvest bounty.
    Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Students took on more responsibility, leading cultural celebrations and decorating school halls.
    Annabelle Canela, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grace. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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