kind 1 of 2

kind

2 of 2

adjective

1
2

Try This Instead

For
Try This
kind people
generous people
friendly people
thoughtful people
helpful people
kind words
pleasant words
sweet words
gentle words
nice words
kind intentions
nice intentions
wholesome intentions
great intentions
decent intentions
pure intentions
a kind way
a generous way
a tender way
a gentle way
a sweet way
kind thoughts
good thoughts
positive thoughts
compassionate thoughts
gentle thoughts
pleasant thoughts

Synonym Chooser

How is the word kind distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of kind are character, description, nature, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

Where would character be a reasonable alternative to kind?

The synonyms character and kind are sometimes interchangeable, but character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When could description be used to replace kind?

While the synonyms description and kind are close in meaning, description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When would nature be a good substitute for kind?

While in some cases nearly identical to kind, nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When can sort be used instead of kind?

The words sort and kind can be used in similar contexts, but sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

When is it sensible to use type instead of kind?

Although the words type and kind have much in common, type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

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 kind
Noun
The study, believed to be the first of its kind, was published in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine by a team at Oklahoma State University (OSU). Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025 Thanks to President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on the country, that success story might be the last of its kind, for a while at least. Angela Watercutter, Wired News, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Bashir is talented, kind, and reserved, never arrogant about his obvious skills. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025 Christie’s stories have been kinder to the travel industry than time has been to her settings: the Winter Palace and its famous gardens on the eastern bank of the Nile are today a far cry from their glory days, though it is rumored that a recent change in ownership will result in a refurbishment. Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kind
Adjective
  • Virtual work can be thoughtful, efficient, and sustainable, but only if the foundation is clear.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The post sparked a thoughtful discussion in the comments, with one user suggesting that neither party was necessarily in the wrong.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Officials expect about 100 prisoners each year will qualify for compassionate release, Buis said.
    Don Thompson, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • In 2013, Francis garnered headlines for his open-minded stance on homosexuality, a notably compassionate approach compared with the Catholic Church’s historic position on the issue.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But this year, a spring market of sorts could start taking shape in May and June, with an uptick in inventory.
    Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Once again, Argentina depends on the IMF which recently gave the country another bail out of sorts, the 23 Fund program with Argentina since its founding.
    Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Ralph Fiennes was also nominated in the Best Actor category for his performance in the film, while Isabella Rossellini was in running for best supporting actress.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The State of the Race Breaking into the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy category is a formidable task.
    Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • On the Exposure band’s initial spring tour — shows in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and other cities —curious and attentive FrippHeads experienced their cult fave album beginning to end, down to the telephone rings at its start.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
  • While large companies often feel distant or impersonal, small businesses can be present, attentive and engaged.
    Chris Harris, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But at its core, Wrexham’s rapid rise owes mostly to club stumbling into a relationship with a benevolent benefactor with far more resources than most of its now-former fourth- and fifth-division peers.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • It's long been the stuff of science fiction: humans achieving immortality by uploading their consciousness into a silicon virtual paradise, ruled over by a benevolent super-intelligent AI.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That literary trope turned rom-com convention gives structure to all six of her masterworks—which goes to show that the romance genre, far from mere escapism, can be an ideal lens through which to observe a society’s values.
    Judy Berman, Time, 2 May 2025
  • Unlike battle royale games like Fortnite and Warzone, or even hero shooters like Overwatch and Valorant, the extraction shooter is a somewhat less saturated genre (at least to mainstream audiences).
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Molly McGovern was a sweet, loving, smart, funny and caring person.
    Meredith Kile, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Poway Unified School District’s three District Classified Employees of the Year for 2025 incorporate caring and compassionate qualities while serving the district, officials said.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kind. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on kind

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!