benevolent
Americanadjective
-
characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings.
a benevolent attitude; her benevolent smile.
-
desiring to help others; charitable.
gifts from several benevolent alumni.
- Synonyms:
- altruistic, philanthropic, benign, liberal, generous, humane, kind, good
-
intended for benefits rather than profit.
a benevolent institution.
adjective
-
intending or showing goodwill; kindly; friendly
a benevolent smile
a benevolent old man
-
doing good or giving aid to others, rather than making profit; charitable
a benevolent organization
Other Word Forms
- benevolently adverb
- benevolentness noun
- nonbenevolent adjective
- nonbenevolently adverb
- pseudobenevolent adjective
- pseudobenevolently adverb
- quasi-benevolent adjective
- quasi-benevolently adverb
- superbenevolent adjective
- superbenevolently adverb
- unbenevolent adjective
- unbenevolently adverb
Etymology
Origin of benevolent
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin benevolent-, stem of benevolēns “kindhearted, well-wishing,” from bene- bene- + volēns “willing, wishing” (present participle of velle “to want, wish”); voluntary
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We used it every day; it’s how we would locate the address of a locksmith or florist or furniture upholsterer, or any number of the women who volunteered in my mother’s benevolent societies.
From Literature
By 1908, Wilhelm’s attitude toward the U.S. was more benevolent, and he offered President Theodore Roosevelt an elite corps of Prussian soldiers to be posted in California, supposedly to fend off a Japanese invasion.
From Salon
Sun Ra was a mythologist, in a very benevolent, deliberate, emancipative sense.
And Mr. McKellen is mildly avuncular, radiating a stealthy, benevolent attitude.
Not like a drunk way but like a benevolent alien who couldn’t believe that this planet had donuts.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
