Charitable — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈcher-ə-tə-bəl/ char·i·ta·ble

Meaning & Definition of Charitable

Charitable (adjective)

  1. full of love for and goodwill toward others, benevolent
  2. liberal in benefactions to the needy, generous
  3. of or relating to charity

Charitable (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a concern for the welfare of others

    "a charitable couple who have donated a sizable chunk of their fortune to the local university"

    similar: altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, do-good, eleemosynary, good, humanitarian, philanthropic
    related: selfless, self-sacrificing, bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, free, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, unselfish, unsparing, compassionate, humane, kind, kindhearted, social-minded
    opposite: self-centered, self-concerned, selfish
    near: self-indulgent, self-seeking, cheap, closefisted, miserly, parsimonious, stingy, tight, tightfisted, hard-hearted, pitiless, unfeeling, self-obsessed

  2. giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation

    "a charitable woman who helped everyone who needed it"

    similar: bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, free, freehanded, freehearted, fulsome, generous, liberal, munificent, open, openhanded, unselfish, unsparing, unstinting
    related: extravagant, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse, altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic, big, greathearted, largehearted, magnanimous, openhearted, compassionate, good-hearted, kind, kindly, samaritan, sympathetic
    opposite: cheap, close, closefisted, costive, illiberal (archaic), mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, selfish, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous
    near: mean, petty, small, frugal, spare, sparing, thrifty, chary, stinting, acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful

  3. tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others

    "her best friend, who was inclined towards a more charitable interpretation of her actions, let it pass"

    similar: clement, easy, indulgent, soft
    related: accommodating, acquiescent, amenable, obliging, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding
    opposite: hard, harsh, severe, stern, strict
    near: demanding, uncharitable, unforgiving, inflexible, intolerant, unbending, uncompromising, unyielding

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Charitable

The most common words with a similar meaning to Charitable:

altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, do-good, eleemosynary, good, humanitarian, philanthropic, bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, free, freehanded, freehearted, fulsome, generous, liberal, munificent, open, openhanded, unselfish, unsparing, unstinting, clement, easy, indulgent, soft

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Charitable

Words with the opposite meaning of Charitable:

self-centered, self-concerned, selfish, cheap, close, closefisted, costive, illiberal, mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous, hard, harsh, severe, stern, strict

Related Words for Charitable

selfless, self-sacrificing, greathearted, handsome, magnanimous, openhearted, compassionate, humane, kind, kindhearted, social-minded, extravagant, lavish, overgenerous, profuse, hospitable, big, largehearted, good-hearted, kindly, samaritan, sympathetic, accommodating, acquiescent, amenable, obliging, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding

Near Antonyms of Charitable

self-indulgent, self-seeking, hard-hearted, pitiless, unfeeling, self-obsessed, mean, petty, small, frugal, spare, sparing, thrifty, chary, acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful, demanding

Word Forms of Charitable

Derived words: charitableness (noun), charitably (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Charitable

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Charitable

charitable gift

Frequently Asked Questions about Charitable

What does "Charitable" mean?

"Charitable" means full of love for and goodwill toward others, benevolent. As an adjective, it is defined as: full of love for and goodwill toward others, benevolent. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Charitable"?

Other words for "Charitable" include altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, do-good, eleemosynary, good, humanitarian and philanthropic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Charitable" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Charitable"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Charitable". Common alternatives include altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, do-good, eleemosynary, good, humanitarian, philanthropic, bighearted and bounteous.

What is the opposite of "Charitable"?

Antonyms of "Charitable" include self-centered, self-concerned, selfish, cheap, close, closefisted, costive and illiberal. Near antonyms include self-indulgent, self-seeking, hard-hearted and pitiless.

How do you use "Charitable" in a sentence?

Examples of "Charitable" in a sentence: "a charitable couple who have donated a sizable chunk of their fortune to the local university"; "a charitable woman who helped everyone who needed it"; "her best friend, who was inclined towards a more charitable interpretation of her actions, let it pass".

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

"Charitable" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Charitable"?

"Charitable" is pronounced /ˈcher-ə-tə-bəl/ and divided into syllables as char·i·ta·ble.

What is the origin of the word "Charitable"?

First known use: 14th century.