CHARITY Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'charity' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of charity are clemency , grace , leniency , and mercy . While all these words mean "a disposition to show kindness or compassion," charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others. // show a little charity for the less fortunate

Q: When is 'clemency' a more appropriate choice than 'charity'?

The meanings of clemency and charity largely overlap; however, clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing. // the judge refused to show clemency

Q: When is it sensible to use 'grace' instead of 'charity'?

While in some cases nearly identical to charity , grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions. // by the grace of God

Q: When can 'leniency' be used instead of 'charity'?

Although the words leniency and charity have much in common, leniency implies lack of severity in punishing. // criticized the courts for excessive leniency

Q: When might 'mercy' be a better fit than 'charity'?

The synonyms mercy and charity are sometimes interchangeable, but mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it. // threw himself on the mercy of the court

charity

noun

ˈcher-ə-tē

Definition of charity

as in philanthropy

the giving of necessities and especially money to the needy after amassing a fortune in the computer industry, the brothers devoted themselves to charity

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Relevance

as in contribution

a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution donated his mansion and all of its land as a charity to the people of his beloved home state

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as in mercy

kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it can't you show a little charity to a guy who's the first to admit he's not perfect?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in kindness

the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune his charity is such that he's a sucker for every panhandler's tale of woe

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in friendship

kindly concern, interest, or support Lincoln's famous promise that the period of Reconstruction would be marked by "charity for all"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun charity differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of charity are clemency, grace, leniency, and mercy. While all these words mean "a disposition to show kindness or compassion," charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others.

show a little charity for the less fortunate

When is clemency a more appropriate choice than charity?

The meanings of clemency and charity largely overlap; however, clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing.

the judge refused to show clemency

When is it sensible to use grace instead of charity?

While in some cases nearly identical to charity, grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions.

by the grace of God

When can leniency be used instead of charity?

Although the words leniency and charity have much in common, leniency implies lack of severity in punishing.

criticized the courts for excessive leniency

When might mercy be a better fit than charity?

The synonyms mercy and charity are sometimes interchangeable, but mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

threw himself on the mercy of the court

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 charity 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 The Super Graphic Spectacular will be a two-day fest for Roan’s charity, the Midwest Princess Project, which benefits trans youth and LGBTQ+ communities. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Choosing a charity because the partnership might look good in an advertisement or press release puts the emphasis in the wrong place. — Kenneth Coffey, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Miami has become an important market for Shoes for a Cure, which will also hold its annual charity shoe sale and more events in New York next week. — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for charity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for charity

Noun

But the rest of the world is not just where the needs are greatest—from acute childhood malnutrition to violence against women—but where the gains from philanthropy can be greatest.

— David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Federal or state governments could seed the accounts, but philanthropy offers a faster, deficit-neutral start.

— Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of philanthropy

Noun

Many of the Muslim donors hold senior leadership positions at various Muslim advocacy organizations, but list their day jobs in tech and finance as their sole occupation on the campaign contribution forms.

— Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Walsh’s creative contribution will be visible not only in the individual pieces, but also in how the collection is styled, photographed and presented.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of contribution

Noun

At Owen’s wedding, Pella’s engagement falls apart and her friendship with Irma seems to reach a breaking point.

— B. D. McClay, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Based between Saudi Arabia and The Netherlands, AlSoghayer’s work explores womanhood, memory, friendship, patriarchy and growing up within a rapidly changing society.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of friendship

Noun

One of the largest donors to a pop-up super PAC supporting Muslim or pro-Palestinian candidates is the president of an Islamic organization that collects obligatory religious donations mandated by Sharia law.

— Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
The overhaul would also tighten restrictions on community development grants and donations by requiring those funds be tied to a specific project.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of donation

Noun

Social workers, nurses, therapists, and home health aides provide care that depends not simply on technical skill, but on empathy, dignity, and compassion.

— Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
The article also took aim at Macron over his past calls for police to show greater empathy.

— Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of empathy

Noun

But Trump’s persistent sympathy for Russia’s position remains a mystery of our time.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Public sympathy for Palestinians is widespread in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, and the government has long supported an independent Palestinian state.

— Niniek Karmini, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of sympathy

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charity

charlatan

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

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Synonyms of charity

noun

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Synonyms of charity

noun

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Example Sentences

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How to Use 'Munificent' and 'Beneficent'

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on charity

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

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Games & Quizzes