charitable

[ char-i-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. generous in donations or gifts to relieve the needs of indigent, ill, or helpless people, or of animals:

   a charitable man giving much money to feed people experiencing food insecurity.

   Synonyms: benevolent, bountiful, liberal, beneficent

   Antonyms: selfish

2. kindly or lenient in judging people, acts, etc.:

   charitable in his opinions of others.

   Synonyms: mild, considerate, broad-minded, merciful, lenient

   Antonyms: intolerant, severe

3. relating to or concerned with charity:

   a charitable institution.

charitable

/ ˈtʃærɪtəbəl /

adjective

1. generous in giving to the needy
2. kind or lenient in one's attitude towards others
3. concerned with or involving charity

Derived Forms

• ˈcharitably, adverb
• ˈcharitableness, noun

Other Words From

• chari·ta·ble·ness noun
• chari·ta·bly adverb
• non·chari·ta·ble adjective
• non·chari·ta·ble·ness noun
• non·chari·ta·bly adverb
• over·chari·ta·ble adjective
• over·chari·ta·ble·ness noun
• over·chari·ta·bly adverb
• pseudo·chari·ta·ble adjective
• pseudo·chari·ta·bly adverb
• quasi-chari·ta·ble adjective
• quasi-chari·ta·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of charitable¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, equivalent to charit(e) charity + -able -able

Synonym Study

See generous.

Example Sentences

In the meantime, Epstein has tried to use his charitable projects to float him back to the top.

From The Daily Beast

Under the most charitable interpretation, his administration was simply mistaken.

From The Daily Beast

By the way, killjoys, American charitable giving goes up by 42 percent during this season of crass materialistic greed and excess.

From The Daily Beast

Actors, musicians, and athletes have a long tradition of supporting charitable causes.

From The Daily Beast

Since then, Gurira has become active in social justice and charitable causes.

From The Daily Beast

Generally persons who associate for charitable or benevolent purposes do not regard themselves in a legal sense as partners.

From Project Gutenberg

Masonic lodges on the other hand, are generally regarded as charitable institutions.

From Project Gutenberg

Never by word or action notice the defects of another; be charitable, for all need charity.

From Project Gutenberg

He was charitable to the poor, gave large donations to religious societies, and rewarded those who wrote in his praise.

From Project Gutenberg

Trevithick's grave was among those of the poor buried by the charitable; no stone or mark distinguished it from its neighbours.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• considerate
• forgiving
• gracious
• magnanimous
• thoughtful
• tolerant