kindness
Americannoun
-
kindnesses
plural
-
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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ness
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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:
"Her story is humbling, full of compassion and kindness and makes us think about how we live our own lives - it is a legacy for us all."
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
His kindness prompted the family to learn more about the charity and want to give back.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Parton preferred to let her closet make the statements, while quietly building a kind of everybody-love-everybody progressivism that promoted equality and kindness while remaining mostly off-the-record.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
The voice, the songs, the smile, the wigs, the wit, the boundless energy, varied performances, unflagging generosity and palpable spirit of kindness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
But Penelope could hardly be cross with the children, after all their kindness and generosity.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
When I look back over these past months I am overwhelmed by the kindnesses bestowed not only on me but on my wife and daughters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
On Friday, Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen "remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year".
From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2024
The dancers tended to tell their stories almost dispassionately, sometimes smiling as they recalled the small kindnesses they had encountered along the way.
From New York Times ● Aug. 30, 2022
James captures the simple kindnesses of a cup of coffee or a shared cellphone as though they were religious acts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 12, 2022
Three years of small kindnesses flashed through my mind.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
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.
