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
Star playwright William Shakespeare saw a golden opportunity to get into the king’s good graces and wrote a play with witches as a main plot driver. Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025 Balancing his life and the growing brand is no easy feat, but Blackwood does it with grace. Essence, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Many salad dressings, mayonnaise, and the hollandaise sauce that graces eggs benedict wouldn’t be possible without emulsification. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025 In Venice, Dwayne Johnson and Ayo Edebiri graced the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, bringing global attention to their latest projects. Okla Jones, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grace
Noun
  • Her kindness extended to her coworkers at Walmart.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The pair are remembered by the company for their kindness, generosity and support for local organizations such as the Ehloe Hospital, the Chico Police Business Support Team and Chico’s Elk Lodge.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • From stern to bow, the boat was a lesson in restrained elegance, with plenty of teak wood and muted, calming shades.
    Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Giorgio Armani, the famed Italian fashion designer who achieved elegance and timelessness through simplicity, has died.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • An August poll from Roanoke College found Spanberger with a 46%-39% lead, while the RealClearPolitics average of polls shows her with the same 7-point advantage.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The totemic power of Apple is running out of time to reset expectations around AI to its own advantage.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Inside, walls are adorned with inlaid brass and white onyx mosaic, framing a three-dimensional image of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, which is present in many RH Galleries and represents the RH design ethos.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese is on the WNBA edition cover—an alt-product trend introduced in NBA 2K22 when former Sky star Candace Parker adorned a cover in honor of the WNBA’s 25th anniversary.
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Nearly a dozen letters were sent to the court at the end of August, pleading for the judge to show mercy for Erickson, who was the last person to reach a deal with prosecutors.
    Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Misinterpret a flawed trial, overtrust anecdotal experience or trust the wrong person, and patients are left at the mercy of ineffective or even harmful treatments.
    Anna Forsythe, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The still-unfinished Sagrada Família inspires awe with its Gothic-meets-modernist majesty—and enduring century-long construction timeline.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The imposing gothic details of Victor’s castle-laboratory—a portentous warrior-angel statue that comes to life, a screaming Medusa rondel carved in stone—vibrate with gloomy baroque majesty.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • By every measurement, there is a clear line of distinction between the two groups within the league’s 18 starters.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Legal operations often involve context, judgment and subtle distinctions that automation isn’t yet equipped to handle.
    Jens Erik Gould, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Renovated cabins are decorated in a nostalgic mountain vibe, with plaids and wood tones reigning supreme.
    Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
  • For dessert was a chocolate cake with brown butter vanilla buttercream icing baked by Gaby Scelzo, decorated with baby blue ruffles and pink frosted roses.
    Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grace. Accessed 12 Sep. 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!