beneficent

adjective

bə-ˈne-fə-sənt How to pronounce beneficent (audio)
Definition of beneficentnext
1
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others a beneficent couple who are regular volunteers at a homeless shelter

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in charitable
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others a beneficent effort to help out the needy during the holidays

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in beneficial
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being cultural activities have a beneficent effect on a community that can't be measured in dollars and cents

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 beneficent With the monetary system in a free-fall, some Iranians would rather have a beneficent king than all these pretenders oh-so-interested in the people. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026 But in Las Vegas, where spectacle-over-substance is kind of the whole point, the Wizard was a beneficent showman. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025 Far away from the old, broken planet, a libertarian utopia will flourish, under the beneficent sway of the Elon. — Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025 Both center-left and center-right in the West coalesce around calls for more porous borders, freer trade, and open minds, calling them either inevitable or beneficent, or more often both at once. — R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018 See All Example Sentences for beneficent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beneficent
  1. benevolent
  2. charitable
  3. beneficial
  4. compassionate
  5. philanthropic
  6. favorable
  7. kind
  8. humanitarian
Adjective
  • Larger-than-life Halloween celebrations rise up every October like the Great Pumpkin (or a benevolent spooky spirit or two) to captivate visitors with parades, caramel apples, costume contests, and more.
    — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Promotional images and films conjured a playful, adaptable and benevolent house — plastic as the building block of family happiness.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of benevolent
Adjective
  • The cast and crew filmed a charity auction scene to put the spotlight on Bears Care, the team’s charitable arm.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For a business leader in a similar position with resources available to them, the starting point for corporate charitable giving is understanding what the nonprofit organization needs and where the business can contribute effectively.
    — Kenneth Coffey, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of charitable
Adjective
  • More research is needed to better understand the connection between creatine and cognition; but the supplement may be beneficial for brain health, particularly in older adults and for issues related to sleep deprivation.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But Helland said such undertakings, while potentially beneficial, were voluntary on the part of the cities.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of beneficial
Adjective
  • The far left's open borders policy was not fair or compassionate.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Judges could sometimes consider changes to the law when deciding whether to grant compassionate release to inmates who had served at least 10 years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • Some billionaires have also pledged philanthropic contributions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • That would have been even a few more million bucks on top of what already looks more like a philanthropic civic act more than a savvy investment on Tullman’s impassioned part, but an enthusiastic punter can dream.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of philanthropic
Adjective
  • Liu, who is not involved in the pope’s care, said that, of the different types of lung cancers, adenocarcinoma has the most favorable prognosis.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Many Laredo residents cross the border to run errands, taking advantage of lower grocery prices and a favorable exchange rate on the Mexican side of the river.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of favorable
Adjective
  • The world has lost one of its brightest lights and kindest souls.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Please be kind and respectful of other customers lined up for gas.
    — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Adjective
  • Joe sought a presidential pardon in June 2025, and Gia said in August 2026 that the family had filed a humanitarian packet as part of its efforts to bring him home.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The result was a humanitarian crisis that at the time was considered the world’s worst, with some 377,000 people killed, according to the Yemen Data Project, which tracks casualties from Yemen’s various conflicts.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of humanitarian

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Cite this Entry

“Beneficent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beneficent. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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