benevolent

adjective

bə-ˈnev-lənt How to pronounce benevolent (audio)
Definition of benevolentnext
1
as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others a benevolent willingness to provide veterinary services to low-income families at greatly reduced prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in charitable
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others a benevolent businessman who has donated money and time to helping inner-city youths

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 benevolent Socialists are counting on the promise of a society where all needs are met by a benevolent government to convert voters to their ranks. — Nolan Finley The Detroit News, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026 Beyond this specific aspect, all on the team praised the benevolent and warm atmosphere in which the shooting took place. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 In his day, as in ours, a dominant narrative portrayed scientific development as both benevolent and inevitable. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026 The Musk Myth How Hollywood burnished the entrepreneur’s image as a benevolent genius. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for benevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benevolent
  1. compassionate
  2. charitable
  3. kind
  4. philanthropic
  5. sympathetic
  6. humanitarian
  7. humane
  8. good
Adjective
  • Perinatal palliative care is an important and compassionate option.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Rodriguez described her daughter as kind, compassionate and full of life.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • Among Parton’s charitable efforts aimed at education was her Imagination Library, which has distributed more than 300 million books to children worldwide over the past 30 years.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Trump’s legislation also added a charitable deduction for filers who don’t itemize tax breaks, worth up to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of charitable
Adjective
  • The five years between home playoff games were not kind to fans of the South Siders.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For her performance as Thelma, the kind young stranger who shares a bus trip with the elderly woman returning to her long-ago home in Bountiful, Saint won the 1954 Outer Critics Circle Special Award.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
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
  • The misery of the situation could feel overwhelming, even cruel, but Cahyono’s observation of Sumiati’s struggles is humane and sympathetic.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Mills, sympathetic to conspiratorial beliefs about the 2020 election and hailed by some election skeptics as a champion of voting integrity, has long clashed with members, squabbling over his power.
    — Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sympathetic
Adjective
  • The war created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters and killed more than 150,000 people.
    — AHMED AL-HAJ, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Ireland has committed more than $754 million in humanitarian assistance, military training and other non-lethal support to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 while stopping short of providing lethal weapons.
    — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of humanitarian
Adjective
  • The United States has previously faced accusations of violating international laws on torture and humane treatment.
    — Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Sally Hayden’s reportage is always deeply humane, rigorous and challenging, and this new book promises to be an education.
    — Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of humane
Adjective
  • Lucy’s constant sense of invention sometimes falters under the album’s new, megawatt spotlight, lacking the enticing mystery that gives their best music its power.
    — H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Among those surveyed, Latinos who didn’t vote in 2024 were more likely than those who had voted to have economic frustrations, like struggling to earn enough money or find a good job.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of good

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Cite this Entry

“Benevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benevolent. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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