kindness
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being kind.
kindness to animals.
- Synonyms:
- tenderness, compassion, sympathy, charity, generosity, humanity, benevolence, benignity
- Antonyms:
- malevolence
-
a kind act; favor.
his many kindnesses to me.
-
kind behavior.
I will never forget your kindness.
- Synonyms:
- tenderness, compassion, sympathy, charity, generosity, humanity, benevolence, benignity
- Antonyms:
- cruelty
-
friendly feeling; liking.
noun
-
the practice or quality of being kind
-
a kind, considerate, or helpful act
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of kindness
First recorded in 1250–1300, kindness is from the Middle English word kindenes. See kind 1, -ness
Explanation
If someone asks you to do them a kindness, they mean a nice, kind act, the kind that makes you think of puppies and daisies. The noun kindness can be used for a kind act or to describe someone's temperament. You might say of someone that her kindness is quite genuine, or on the other hand she fakes kindness to get what she wants.
Vocabulary lists containing kindness
#Gradwords: What Single Word Would You Give a College Grad?
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ness
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
Asking him to choose sides runs contrary to decades of Sesame Street lessons about kindness, friendship and inclusion.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
Elmo first appeared on Sesame Street in 1980 and is known for promoting kindness and unity.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
But I encourage you to reframe your mindset and think of saving for retirement as an act of kindness toward your future self.
From MarketWatch • May 30, 2026
It takes an artist of a higher order to make kindness and appreciation as thrilling as cruelty.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Tending to the dead was an act of ultimate kindness, and such things were meant to be performed in silence, for an audience who would never acknowledge it.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
