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.

See Examples For:

gentle giant

Kelly’s imposing height, several inches above 6 feet, contrasts with his soft facial features and warm smile, making him the poster child for the figure of the gentle giant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

A memory of, as she said in her eulogy, a "gentle giant with a heart of gold" who "wore his uniform with pride" and "treasured family above all else".

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

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 seemed so warm and friendly - like a gentle giant," Katie said.

From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2025

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

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