Benign — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /bi-ˈnīn/ be·nign

Meaning & Definition of Benign

Benign (adjective)

  1. of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life; especially, not becoming cancerous
  2. having no significant effect, harmless
  3. of a gentle disposition, gracious

Benign (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt

    "around campus he's known as a real character, but one whose eccentricities are entirely benign"

    similar: anodyne, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe, white
    related: healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome, benignant, sound, trustworthy, gentle, gracious, mild, nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous
    opposite: adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked
    near: poisonous, venomous, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, offensive, painful, scathing, wounding, deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous, destructive, insidious, malignant, noxious, pestilent, polluted, tainted

  2. not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect

    "basking under a benign sun on a day in early spring"

    similar: balmy, bland, delicate, gentle, light, mellow, mild, nonabrasive, soft, soothing, tender
    related: calm, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil, clement, compassionate, easy, lenient, merciful, buffering, cushioning, emollient, softening, sleek, slick, smooth
    opposite: abrasive, caustic, coarse, hard, harsh, rough, scathing, stern, ungentle
    near: exquisite, fierce, intense, powerful, severe, forceful, forcible, savage, violent, roughened, rugged, strong, abrading, irritating, roughening, grim, gruff, rude, stiff, heavy-handed, oppressive, pitiless, tyrannical

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Benign

The most common words with a similar meaning to Benign:

anodyne, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe, white, balmy, bland, delicate, gentle, light, mellow, mild, nonabrasive, soft, soothing, tender

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Benign

Words with the opposite meaning of Benign:

adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked, abrasive, caustic, coarse, hard, harsh, rough, scathing, stern, ungentle

Related Words for Benign

healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome, benignant, sound, trustworthy, gracious, nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous, calm, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil, clement, compassionate, easy

Near Antonyms of Benign

poisonous, venomous, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, offensive, painful, wounding, deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous, destructive, insidious, malignant, pestilent

Word Forms of Benign

Derived words: benignity (noun), benignly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Benign

Middle English benigne, from Anglo-French, from Latin benignus, from bene + gignere to beget kin

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Benign

Words & Phrases Containing Benign

benign neglect, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, benign prostatic hyperplasia

Frequently Asked Questions about Benign

What does "Benign" mean?

"Benign" means of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life; especially, not becoming cancerous. As an adjective, it is defined as: of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life; especially, not becoming cancerous. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Benign"?

Other words for "Benign" include anodyne, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe and white. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Benign" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Benign"?

There are 58 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Benign". Common alternatives include anodyne, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe, white, balmy and bland.

What is the opposite of "Benign"?

Antonyms of "Benign" include adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious and detrimental. Near antonyms include poisonous, venomous, menacing and ominous.

How do you use "Benign" in a sentence?

Examples of "Benign" in a sentence: "around campus he's known as a real character, but one whose eccentricities are entirely benign"; "basking under a benign sun on a day in early spring".

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

"Benign" is an adjective.

Is "Benign" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Benign" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Benign"?

"Benign" is pronounced /bi-ˈnīn/ and divided into syllables as be·nign.