Benevolence — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /bə-ˈne-və-lən(t)s/ be·nev·o·lence

Meaning & Definition of Benevolence

Benevolence (noun)

  1. disposition to do good
  2. an act of kindness
  3. a generous gift

Benevolence (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act of kind assistance

    "self-effacing as well as selfless, he refused all public acknowledgement of his many benevolences to the community"

    similar: boon, courtesy, favor, grace, indulgence, kindness, mercy, service, turn
    related: dispensation, waiver, advantage, benefit, blessing, godsend, manna, liberty, license, privilege
    near: hindrance, hurdle, impediment, interference, obstacle

  2. kindly concern, interest, or support

    "her benevolence towards her employees was such that she actually let one live in her home temporarily"

    similar: amity, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness
    related: bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement, generosity, affinity, communion, empathy, kindness, sympathy, tolerance, altruism, philanthropy, selflessness, unselfishness
    opposite: ill will, malevolence, venom
    near: disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness

  3. sympathetic concern for the well-being of others

    "an actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty"

    similar: beneficence, benignancy, benignity, compassionateness, good-heartedness, humaneness, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, softheartedness, tenderheartedness, tenderness, warmheartedness
    related: attentiveness, considerateness, thoughtfulness, affability, friendliness, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, warmth, graciousness, niceness, pleasantness, clemency, leniency, mercifulness, patience, tolerance, understanding, altruism, charitableness, charity, generosity, greatheartedness, magnanimity, philanthropy, unselfishness
    opposite: barbarity, barbarousness, bestiality, brutality, brutishness, callousness, cold-bloodedness, cruelty, hard-heartedness, heartlessness, inhumanity, savageness, savagery, unfeelingness, unkindliness, unkindness
    near: mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, inconsiderateness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness, grimness, harshness, severity, sternness, toughness, hatefulness, malevolence, maliciousness, meanness, spitefulness, virulence, vitriol

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Benevolence

The most common words with a similar meaning to Benevolence:

boon, courtesy, favor, grace, indulgence, kindness, mercy, service, turn, amity, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness, beneficence, benignancy, benignity, compassionateness, good-heartedness, humaneness, kindheartedness, softheartedness, tenderheartedness, tenderness, warmheartedness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Benevolence

Words with the opposite meaning of Benevolence:

ill will, malevolence, venom, barbarity, barbarousness, bestiality, brutality, brutishness, callousness, cold-bloodedness, cruelty, hard-heartedness, heartlessness, inhumanity, savageness, savagery, unfeelingness, unkindliness, unkindness

Related Words for Benevolence

dispensation, waiver, advantage, benefit, blessing, godsend, manna, liberty, license, privilege, bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement, generosity, affinity, communion, empathy, sympathy, tolerance, altruism

Near Antonyms of Benevolence

hindrance, hurdle, impediment, interference, obstacle, disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, inconsiderateness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness, grimness, harshness, severity, sternness

Origin & Etymology of Benevolence

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Benevolence

What does "Benevolence" mean?

"Benevolence" means disposition to do good. As a noun, it is defined as: disposition to do good. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Benevolence"?

Other words for "Benevolence" include boon, courtesy, favor, grace, indulgence, kindness, mercy and service. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Benevolence" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Benevolence"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Benevolence". Common alternatives include boon, courtesy, favor, grace, indulgence, kindness, mercy, service, turn and amity.

What is the opposite of "Benevolence"?

Antonyms of "Benevolence" include ill will, malevolence, venom, barbarity, barbarousness, bestiality, brutality and brutishness. Near antonyms include hindrance, hurdle, impediment and interference.

How do you use "Benevolence" in a sentence?

Examples of "Benevolence" in a sentence: "self-effacing as well as selfless, he refused all public acknowledgement of his many benevolences to the community"; "her benevolence towards her employees was such that she actually let one live in her home temporarily"; "an actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty".

Is "Benevolence" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Benevolence" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Benevolence"?

"Benevolence" is pronounced /bə-ˈne-və-lən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as be·nev·o·lence.

What is the origin of the word "Benevolence"?

First known use: 14th century.