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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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And so our friendship was born, and grew from there over weeks and then months of talking about authorial voice, the politics of publishing, the crushing despair of our historical moment, and how long should a chapter be, anyway?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Aarons notes that the two would spend hours on end in the studio and on phone calls throughout the creation process for the album, growing a close friendship along the way — so much so in fact, that Parker even helped DJ her wedding earlier this year.—
Josh Glicksman,
Billboard,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But Kwei, in the first display of mercy or kindness that Dek has ever seen, refuses to slay his own brother.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
What surprised me most about her — or what was revealed in me through her — was tenderness.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Flaky buttermilk biscuits meet the sweet tenderness of cornbread in this bake.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Brown family is among the wealthiest families in the country, and its generosity over generations has left an undeniable mark on Louisville.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Still, Kozlin says she was overwhelmed by Evelyn’s generosity.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But a lot of Democratic voters don't feel much sympathy for this argument.—
Ashley Lopez,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
-
One rendition of the story even displays a little sympathy for the devil, as Jennings shares.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Finance website WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities in America, looking at 19 key indicators of livability, affordability and veteran-friendliness in a new report published on Monday.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
For people like Wasefi, with sisters and nieces back home, no amount of tourist-friendliness can compensate for this disaster.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Crucially, the tragedies of the film don’t come from a sense of the filmmaker’s cynicism, but from compassion.—
Kambole Campbell,
IndieWire,
3 Nov. 2025
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In such cases, solidarity and compassion themselves might seem like luxuries next to the all-conquering, primally selfish urge to save your own skin.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
31 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 Nov. 2025.
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