1
as in friendship
kindly concern, interest, or support
was touched by the kindliness of his neighbors, who voluntarily took care of his dog while he was in the hospital
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in kindness
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune
as a result of her kindliness, several poor families have the makings for a Thanksgiving feast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tenderness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others
an elderly couple of modest means but infinite kindliness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kindliness
Internet wags have wondered whether Gunn’s kindliness extends to malevolent immigrants like General Zod.
—
Armond White,
National Review,
18 July 2025
What was needed was a distanced kindliness—patience, an acknowledgment of the mess that was unfolding, an explanation of a way through, a reiteration of the soundness of the larger vision.
—
Peggy Noonan,
WSJ,
19 Aug. 2021
Weinberg’s memoir doesn’t aspire to the depth of Feeney’s study, but its fealty and kindliness have their own appeal.
—
Thomas Mallon,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2018
Grandpa is hung-over,
grandma has run out of kindliness, Mom has post-traumatic
hostess stress.
—
Wired Staff,
WIRED,
26 Dec. 2003
Armond White,
National Review,
18 July 2025
What was needed was a distanced kindliness—patience, an acknowledgment of the mess that was unfolding, an explanation of a way through, a reiteration of the soundness of the larger vision.
—
Peggy Noonan,
WSJ,
19 Aug. 2021
Weinberg’s memoir doesn’t aspire to the depth of Feeney’s study, but its fealty and kindliness have their own appeal.
—
Thomas Mallon,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2018
Grandpa is hung-over,
grandma has run out of kindliness, Mom has post-traumatic
hostess stress.
—
Wired Staff,
WIRED,
26 Dec. 2003
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindliness
Noun
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Shamea and Porsha’s passive back-and-forth is a fascinating take on how icing someone out after a friendship falls apart can play out on a show like The Real Housewives.
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Instead of celebrating innovation, the movie unfolds through lawsuits and broken friendships.
Noun
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So to find herself so far from Alicent’s kindness and affirmation is really stark.
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The whole group went to the Haiti-Morocco game this weekend, closing a loop of kindness that extended beyond Thompson’s original gesture.
Noun
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These poems acknowledge pain, but identify tenderness in the darker corners of life.
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Many meatball recipes bind the mixture and add tenderness with eggs and breadcrumbs or bread soaked in milk.
Noun
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But a wiser course might be to emphasize a kind of counter-nostalgia, reclaiming a mythic past for the forces of tolerance and democratic generosity.
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Perhaps subsequent history shows that his generosity of spirit was misplaced.
Noun
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And, for all the theater of the hearing and Wyper’s expressions of sympathy with aldermen, the Stonepeak executive didn’t offer any meaningful concessions to make this obnoxious meter deal more palatable for Chicagoans.
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No premature judgment and no overwrought sympathy here.
Noun
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There’s the Swede promoting the power of ranch dressing, the Italians marveling at fountain drinks with ice and free refills, the English rhapsodizing over chicken parm and just about everyone shouting out the friendliness of the businesses that served them.
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Keewaydin Island Keewaydin Island is an eight-mile-long, undeveloped barrier island located between Naples and Marco Island, known for its totally unspoiled white-sand beaches and dog-friendliness.
Noun
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Upon Paula’s release, Karl picks her up and is his usual confusing shamble of one part compassion and two parts boundaries.
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Will Americans embrace vulnerability with compassion, or perpetuate stigma?
Noun
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The cordiality and handsome looks of the dining room are exquisite reminders of elaborate Milanese design.
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Indianapolis didn't crack Nextdoor's list of the 20 friendliest cities in Indiana, but its separate ranking of neighborhoods in the Indy metro area finds plenty of cordiality in Central Indiana.
Cite this Entry
“Kindliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindliness. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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