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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
-
After a successful night in coverage — and given his friendship with Morrison — Stevenson was convinced that the final pass wasn’t coming his way.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Fortunately, the film found an adoring audience that connected with its depiction of bisexuality, its wry post-9/11 humor, and its themes of female friendship.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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
-
Her voice—soulful, unshaken, and still capable of wrapping you in both tenderness and fire—wove through classics and new arrangements, honoring her artistry while making space for fresh interpretations.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Full of warmth, tenderness, and poetic brilliance, this 2025 Sundance Festival Favorite Award winner is a heartbreaking yet life-affirming celebration of creativity, partnership, and the enduring power of words to light the darkest times.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There’s such generosity in the book.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In an inspiring act of kindness and generosity, tournament angler Tripp Berlinsky turned the biggest win of his college fishing career into an opportunity to give back.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the attack in Grand Blanc this week has only brought others closer to the church in sympathy and care.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Many users expressed their sympathy, and some even had their own pets react to the sound from the video.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Feklistov explained that the kid-friendliness of the resort tends to be on a case-by-case basis, depending on each family’s priorities and goals.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Known for their high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness due to zinc’s abundance, zinc–air batteries are gaining increasing attention.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the social stigma surrounding tattoos in Vietnam, Ngoc empowers her clients, including breast cancer survivors and women with self-harm scars, to reclaim their bodies, demonstrating that her work is a profound act of compassion and resilience.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Asked how many offenses should trigger jail time, Harrell dismissed punitive responses and framed the issue as a call for compassion.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Visuals of exaggerated cordiality between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and President Xi Jinping of China at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on September 1 displayed China’s convening power.—
Shyam Saran,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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One of the institute’s medical personnel, Farah (Kate Dickie), greets them with the kind of clinical cordiality that undercuts its outwardly soothing welcome with unnerving detachment.—
Jake Cole,
IndieWire,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kindliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindliness. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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