gentle

[jen-tl]

adjective

gentler, gentlest 

1. kindly; amiable.

   a gentle manner.

   Synonyms: merciful, lenient, humane, tender, soothing, pacific, peaceful, clement
   Antonyms: cruel, harsh

2. not severe, rough, or violent; mild.

   a gentle wind;

   a gentle tap on the shoulder.

   Antonyms: sudden, violent

3. moderate.

   gentle heat.

   Synonyms: temperate

4. gradual.

   a gentle slope.

5. of good birth or family; wellborn.

   Synonyms: noble

6. characteristic of good birth; honorable; respectable.

   a gentle upbringing.

7. easily handled or managed; tractable.

   a gentle animal.

   Synonyms: tame, docile, manageable
   Antonyms: unruly, wild

8. soft or low.

   a gentle sound.

9. polite; refined.

   Consider, gentle reader, my terrible predicament at this juncture.

   Synonyms: polished, courteous

10. entitled to a coat of arms; armigerous.

11. Archaic.,  noble; chivalrous.

    a gentle knight.

verb (used with object)

gentled, gentling 

1. to tame; render tractable.

2. to mollify; calm; pacify.

3. to make gentle.

4. to stroke; soothe by petting.

5. to ennoble; dignify.

gentle

/ ˈdʒɛntəl /

adjective

1. having a mild or kindly nature or character

2. soft or temperate; mild; moderate

   a gentle scolding

3. gradual

   a gentle slope

4. easily controlled; tame

   a gentle horse

5. archaic,  of good breeding; noble

   gentle blood

6. archaic,  gallant; chivalrous

verb

1. to tame or subdue (a horse)

2. to appease or mollify

3. obsolete,  to ennoble or dignify

noun

1. a maggot, esp when used as bait in fishing

2. archaic,  a person who is of good breeding

Other Word Forms

• gentleness noun
• gently adverb
• overgentle adjective
• ungentle adjective
• ungentleness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentle¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English gentle, gentil(e), from Old French gentil “highborn, noble,” from Latin gentīlis “belonging to the same family,” equivalent to gent- (stem of gēns ) gens + -īlis -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentle¹

C13: from Old French gentil noble, from Latin gentīlis belonging to the same family; see _gens

Synonym Study

Gentle, meek, mild refer to an absence of bad temper or belligerence. Gentle has reference especially to disposition and behavior, and often suggests a deliberate or voluntary kindness or forbearance in dealing with others: a gentle pat; gentle with children. Meek implies a submissive spirit, and may even indicate undue submission in the face of insult or injustice: meek and even servile or weak. Mild suggests absence of harshness or severity, rather because of natural character or temperament than conscious choice: a mild rebuke; a mild manner.

Example Sentences

"Kids are naturally curious and instead of ignoring that, we can embrace it. With safe, gentle products parents can trust," Rini co-founder Mitchell told her 35 million Instagram followers.

Read more on Barron's

Active warm-ups involved gentle activity like ten minutes on a stationary bike or completing a lighter version of the upcoming exercise.

Read more on Science Daily

How about an animated feature in which a snake is a gentle, misunderstood hero who seeks merely to restore his people’s —er, his fellow reptiles’—rightful legacy?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They then used a gentle pre-transplant preparation involving immune-targeting antibodies and low-dose radiation, followed by a transplant of blood stem cells and islet cells from an unrelated donor, to restore blood sugar control.

Read more on Science Daily

Then: give yourself the gift of a little gentle structure.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• calm 
• delicate 
• mellow 
• mild 
• moderate 
• muted 
• placid 
• quiet 
• serene 
• slight 
• slow 
• smooth 
• soft 
• soothing 
• subdued 
• tender 
• tranquil