benevolence

noun

bə-ˈnev-lən(t)s How to pronounce benevolence (audio)
Definition of benevolencenext
1
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance self-effacing as well as selfless, he refused all public acknowledgement of his many benevolences to the community

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in friendship
kindly concern, interest, or support her benevolence towards her employees was such that she actually let one live in her home temporarily

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tenderness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others an actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty

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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 benevolence These firms often present self-dealing as benevolence, playing to win in ways that erode trust and long-term resilience. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 That might appear to be pay-it-forward benevolence from Stankoven. — Sean Gentille, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Making maritime travel safer for people of all backgrounds and nationalities was another way to uphold this value of universal benevolence. — Amanda Moniz, The Conversation, 12 May 2026 Starlight), a member of the Seven who questions their benevolence. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for benevolence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benevolence
  1. kindness
  2. friendship
  3. tenderness
  4. service
  5. generosity
  6. beneficence
  7. mercy
  8. friendliness
Noun
  • If someone consistently behaves with kindness, generosity, and consideration, even when these behaviors require effort or self-restraint, their motives may be less important than their actions.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The singer was so well known for helping out that fake stories are hard to refute, because even extraordinary acts of kindness sound like something Parton would do.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • While a release date hasn’t been announced yet, Fey teased that there would be more cozy vibes in the series about love and friendship.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Caylen’s friendship with Lawley has also been featured heavily in his online career.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of friendship
Noun
  • These pockets expand in the oven to give your cookies lift, tenderness, and structure.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Some of the skin is peeling a skosh more than they’d all like, though, a result of the potatoes’ tenderness.
    — Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tenderness
Noun
  • Treasury yields moved lower across the curve on Thursday, as traders look ahead to key services and jobs data for more insights into the domestic economic picture following a sharp sell-off in global bond markets.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Strong companies may begin with electric-fleet operations, depot management, charging, maintenance, logistics or mobility services and evolve toward autonomous-ready infrastructure.
    — John Gabriel, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of service
Noun
  • Charities should seize on that and message around the benefit that leaning into generosity has for people’s wallets and their communities—one that opens the door to a teaching moment.
    — Dale Bannon, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Their generosity, humanity and belief in the importance of fashion as art, culture and history – as well as their understanding of human fragility and the possibility of growth – will remain with me always.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of generosity
Noun
  • Recommitting to Belmont’s core — respect, beneficence and justice — keeps the clinical‑trials enterprise worthy of public confidence.
    — Stephanie Haridopolos, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026
  • In a European women’s football ecosystem that still relies predominantly on the beneficence of men’s football, Kang’s bullishness to put her money where her mouth is naturally entices.
    — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Definition of beneficence
Noun
  • The fungibility of the hands is a reprieve from the book’s scenes of violence and its fallout, from the endless assigning of blame and the apportioning out of mercy or destruction.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Historians say the horns may have been blown to scare evil spirits, to proclaim victories, or as a way to encourage divine mercy.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of mercy
Noun
  • But there's more to these cities than tax-friendliness, WalletHub said.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Diaper qualities and features Some general diaper selection factors to consider are cost, softness, absorbency, fit, fragrance, ingredients and environmental friendliness.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of friendliness

Browse Nearby Words

benefits
benevolence
benevolences
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Cite this Entry

“Benevolence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolence. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on benevolence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about benevolence

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