benevolent
pronunciation
How to pronounce benevolent in British English:
UK [bəˈnevələnt]
How to pronounce benevolent in American English:
US [bəˈnevələnt]
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- Adjective:
- doing or producing good
- intending or showing kindness
- having or showing or arising from a desire to promote the welfare or happiness of others
- generous in providing aid to others
- generous in assistance to the poor
Word Origin
- benevolent (adj.)
- mid-15c., "wishing to do good, kindly," from Middle French benivolent and directly from Latin benevolentem (nominative benevolens) "wishing (someone) well, benevolent," related to benevolentia "good feeling" (see benevolence). Related: Benevolently.
Synonym
lenient accommodating charitable liberal beneficent philanthropic benign kind broad-minded indulgent open-handed good generous mild soft-hearted obliging kindly compassionate tender giving munificent humane tenderhearted altruistic sympathetic good-hearted merciful gentle chivalrous bounteous benignant gracious forbearant doing clement magnanimous kind-hearted humanitarian big-hearted warm-hearted
Example
- 1. This utopian impulse inevitably went hand-in-hand with benevolent bossiness .
- 2. But it is not just a benevolent act to encourage younger bankers .
- 3. But he stressed that the benefits were related to benevolent prayer .
- 4. Tv isn 't just docile ; it 's positively benevolent .
- 5. The emir does not pretend he is anything but a benevolent modernising autocrat .