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

• gently adverb
• gentleness noun
• 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

Wong’s son called him a “gentle, loving man,” recalling how Wong would pack lunch for him and his brother daily while they were growing up, and cooked dinner nearly every night.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When you see green trees, smell pine and hear gentle rustling leaves or the sound of birdsong, your autonomic nervous system - a network of nerves controlling unconscious processes - responds instantly.

Read more on BBC

The pictures show a pallid, hollow-eyed man, resembling Poe, who’s sitting by the fire in his dressing gown when there comes a gentle “rapping, rapping” at the door.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The two of them share an understanding that they should be gentle giants who look on the bright side of getting thrashed, made to bleed, and being knocked unconscious for other people’s entertainment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead, doctors and physical therapists are turning to approaches that focus on controlled movement, gentle exercise to gradually return to full activity and allowing the body to move through its natural healing process.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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