mild

American  

[mahyld] / maɪld /

adjective

milder, mildest

1. amiably gentle or temperate in feeling or behavior toward others.

   Synonyms:

   pleasant, soft

   Antonyms:

   forceful

2. characterized by or showing such gentleness, as manners or speech.

   a mild voice.

3. not cold, severe, or extreme, as air or weather.

   mild breezes.

   Synonyms:

   clement, moderate, temperate

   Antonyms:

   severe

4. not sharp, pungent, or strong.

   a mild flavor.

   Synonyms:

   bland

5. not acute or serious, as disease.

   a mild case of flu.

6. gentle or moderate in force or effect.

   mild penalties.

   Antonyms:

   harsh

7. soft; pleasant.

   mild sunshine.

8. moderate in intensity, degree, or character.

   mild regret.

9. British Dialect. comparatively soft and easily worked, as soil, wood, or stone.

10. Obsolete. kind or gracious.

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noun

1. British. beer that has a blander taste than bitter.

mild British  

/ maɪld /

adjective

1. (of a taste, sensation, etc) not powerful or strong; bland

   a mild curry

2. gentle or temperate in character, climate, behaviour, etc

3. not extreme; moderate

   a mild rebuke

4. feeble; unassertive

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noun

1. draught beer, of darker colour than bitter and flavoured with fewer hops

Related Words

See gentle.

Other Word Forms

• mildly adverb
• mildness noun
• overmild adjective
• semimild adjective
• semimildness noun

Etymology

Origin of mild

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English milde; cognate with German mild; akin to Greek malthakós “soft”

Example Sentences

Under the draft budget for 2026/27, only four departments would see a mild increase in their budgets for next year - education, health, justice and infrastructure.

From BBC

“While the weather in Europe has been colder than usual recently, forecasts indicate milder conditions later in the month,” ING analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We use very mild temperatures for a longer time. If the heat is too high, the flower burns and you lose its medicinal quality and colour," says Singh.

From BBC

In the new study, researchers aimed to overcome these risks by creating safer versions known as "mild" mitochondrial uncouplers.

From Science Daily

While, in most children, chickenpox is a mild disease, Dr Christie said that "the picture that we see in the hospital is quite different".

From BBC

Related Words

• balmy
• benign
• bland
• breezy
• calm
• cool
• delicate
• mellow
• moderate
• peaceful
• smooth
• soft
• sunny
• tepid
• warm
• weak