gentle giant

American

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

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of gentle giant

First recorded in 1810–20

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.

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

"He had his full life ahead of him, he was the most loving gentle giant you'd ever meet," she added.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2025

“As one of the tallest students at Central, you should see him above all the other kids, but he was truly a gentle giant with a quick smile and an easy laugh.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

He was the sweetest man, a gentle giant, the biggest teddy bear in the world.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023