Kindliness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈkīn(d)-lē-nəs/ kind·li·ness

Meaning & Definition of Kindliness

Kindliness (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being kindly
  2. a kindly deed

Kindliness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. kindly concern, interest, or support

    "was touched by the kindliness of his neighbors, who voluntarily took care of his dog while he was in the hospital"

    similar: amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, 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

  2. the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune

    "as a result of her kindliness, several poor families have the makings for a Thanksgiving feast"

    similar: bigheartedness, charity, commiseration, compassion, feeling, good-heartedness, heart, humanity, kindheartedness, kindness, largeheartedness, mercy, pity, ruth, softheartedness, sympathy, warmheartedness
    related: feelings, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitivity, affection, love, regard, affinity, empathy, rapport, altruism, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, generosity, goodwill, humaneness, humanism, humanitarianism, philanthropy
    opposite: coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, inhumanity, inhumanness, mercilessness, pitilessness
    near: callousness, coldness, disinterest, indifference, unconcern, cruelty, harshness, animosity, antipathy, dislike, hatred, hostility

  3. sympathetic concern for the well-being of others

    "an elderly couple of modest means but infinite kindliness"

    similar: beneficence, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, compassionateness, good-heartedness, humaneness, kindheartedness, 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 Kindliness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Kindliness:

amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, neighborliness, bigheartedness, commiseration, compassion, feeling, good-heartedness, heart, humanity, kindheartedness, kindness, largeheartedness, mercy, pity, ruth, softheartedness, sympathy, warmheartedness, beneficence, benignancy, benignity, compassionateness, humaneness, tenderheartedness, tenderness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Kindliness

Words with the opposite meaning of Kindliness:

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

Related Words for Kindliness

bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement, generosity, affinity, communion, empathy, tolerance, altruism, philanthropy, selflessness, unselfishness, feelings, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitivity, affection, love, regard, humanism

Near Antonyms of Kindliness

disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, coldness, disinterest, indifference, unconcern, harshness, dislike, ruthlessness, inconsiderateness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness, grimness, severity, sternness, toughness, hatefulness

Origin & Etymology of Kindliness

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Kindliness

What does "Kindliness" mean?

"Kindliness" means the quality or state of being kindly. As a noun, it is defined as: the quality or state of being kindly. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Kindliness"?

Other words for "Kindliness" include amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship and friendliness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Kindliness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Kindliness"?

There are 85 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Kindliness". Common alternatives include amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship and gemütlichkeit.

What is the opposite of "Kindliness"?

Antonyms of "Kindliness" include ill will, malevolence, venom, coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, inhumanity, inhumanness and mercilessness. Near antonyms include disfavor, intolerance, animosity and antagonism.

How do you use "Kindliness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Kindliness" in a sentence: "was touched by the kindliness of his neighbors, who voluntarily took care of his dog while he was in the hospital"; "as a result of her kindliness, several poor families have the makings for a Thanksgiving feast"; "an elderly couple of modest means but infinite kindliness".

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

"Kindliness" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Kindliness"?

"Kindliness" is pronounced /ˈkīn(d)-lē-nəs/ and divided into syllables as kind·li·ness.

What is the origin of the word "Kindliness"?

First known use: 15th century.