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.
Not like a drunk way but like a benevolent alien who couldn’t believe that this planet had donuts.
From Los Angeles Times
That’s possible even in “Pluribus,” where the hive mind seems benevolent, acting from a shared belief in doing the least harm to the planet, including to plant life.
From Salon
The myth imagines a benevolent planner; the reality looks much closer to a second-best market riddled with information frictions.
The Chinese and Irish formed benevolent societies to help new arrivals assimilate.
The family assumes these blessings are the work of a benevolent forest spirit.
From Salon
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.
