gentle giant

American  

[jen-tl jahy-uhnt] / ˈdʒɛn tl ˈdʒaɪ ənt /

noun

1. a person or animal that may seem intimidating because of great size, strength, talent, influence, etc., but is surprisingly friendly and not aggressive or threatening.

   Don’t be afraid of my huge dog—St. Bernards are gentle giants.

   A towering figure among scientists, she was a gentle giant who made others feel at home as they learned the profession.

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Etymology

Origin of gentle giant

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gentle giant

He called Sherpa an "absolute gentle giant of a man and a true 'tiger of the mountains'", in a post that assumed the worst.

From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026

He called him an "absolute gentle giant of a man and a true 'tiger of the mountains'", in a post that assumed the worst.

From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026

The couple have never found their "gentle giant".

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2025

Shaquille O’Neal was a dominant force in the NBA, a 7-foot-1 gentle giant who shattered boards, racked up four titles and left an indelible mark as one of the best centers in basketball history.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2025

The gentle giant would whimper when he felt him, and thrash his shaggy head from side to side, but not as violently as he had the first time, back at Queenscrown.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin