meekness

American  

[meek-nis] / ˈmik nɪs /

noun

1. the quality of being patient or quiet in nature.

   The theme of her sermon was that quietness and meekness are the beginning of wisdom.

2. the quality of being overly submissive.

   Several speakers criticized the government for its meekness when confronted with threats.

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Other Word Forms

• overmeekness noun

Etymology

Origin of meekness

meek ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Use the noun meekness to talk about someone's habit of acting shy or submissive. Your own meekness might keep you from asking your boss for a raise. If you tend to give in easily, or to quietly endure hardship, you have the quality of meekness. Meekness can mean not speaking up for yourself or deferring to other people with louder voices and stronger opinions. The word meekness has meek at its root, "gentle, benevolent, or humble." Originally, the word meek was specifically associated with women and feminine qualities, and it comes from an Old Norse root, mjúkr, "soft or gentle."

Example Sentences

That’s what makes McBride singularly compelling in playing her – she’s constantly holding Carol’s danger and determination under a gossamer veil of meekness.

From Salon • Sep. 29, 2024

John Paul was known as "The Smiling Pope" because of his meekness and simplicity.

From Reuters • Sep. 4, 2022

An abdominal muscle did the threatening this time, and by the second set it clearly sapped some caliber from his backhand and his serve, the latter often laced with uncharacteristic meekness.

From Washington Post • Jul. 6, 2022

I’ve never really understood the intolerance for meekness.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2021

He only said “Heaven wills it,” and he accepted flood and drought with meekness.

From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck