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
So give yourself more grace with each passing year. Erica Sloan, SELF, 11 Sep. 2025 Be the person nobody goes to for gossip, remember your grace and strive to see the good first. Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Consider, for example, the photograph that graces the cover of his forthcoming album, Mark William Lewis. Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2025 McKean has graced any number of projects over the years; his turn on Better Call Saul is canon-worthy. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grace
Noun
  • Having a solid structure in place can allow kindness to thrive without compromising the performance of your team or operations.
    Roxana Diaconu, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Your loving kindness stays with me.
    Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This gives the outfit a cool twist without sacrificing elegance.
    Emma Mehl, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Nothing more needs to be said to exhibit the chasm about to open up between two young women who share much in the way of gentility, elegance and accomplishments.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Boomsma said any traits the ants have evolved are adaptations driven by natural selection, and creating fitter hybrid workers provided a competitive advantage, allowing Iberian harvester ants to extend their range vastly.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The Wave now hold a 6-2-1 advantage in the all-time regular season series.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Dainty gold buckles adorn the soft suede straps that will hold your feet firmly in place, and the square toe design offers room for your toes to sit comfortably without feeling squished.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The father-son duo both towered over Hargitay, adorning casual clothing in snaps taken from their visit.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • On paper, this one would go to Washington by a mercy-rule final score.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The winners of the 2025 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Award have been revealed, showcasing a spectacular selection of night sky images that reveal the majesty of ancient galaxies, nebulas, stellar cities and of course, Earth's moon.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Cinematographer Jaime Ackroyd certainly captures Scotland’s majesty, but there is no character to the frames, which look like they could be plucked out of a commercial from a tourism bureau.
    Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The only Sacagawea dollar coin sold at the auction without the distinction of having been flown to space was sold for $120,000.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The biggest distinction is at coordinator.
    Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Families can enjoy painting a watercolor on the terrace with local artist Nancy Willis or a cookie-decorating class with Pastry Chef Celine Plano.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Its reversible design offers you the unique opportunity to decorate with the seasons—the lighter side for spring and summer and the darker to capture the moodiness of fall and winter.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grace. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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