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Benevolent

Kindly disposed; well meaning and generous; charitable

adjective

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Imagine This

If someone is good to those who are violent, he or she must be very generous and friendly.

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Sounds Like

buh-NEV-uh-luhnt

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Looks Like

bene- + -volent; resembles 'bene-' meaning good and '-volent' from Latin volere to wish

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Remember This

Benevolent shares roots with beneficent. It describes a person's goodwill or actions toward others, not merely a lack of harm (unlike benign).

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Other Forms

benevolencenoun

benevolentlyadverb

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Connect With

kind, generous, charitable, benevolence, philanthropic, magnanimous, altruistic

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Note

Uses describe people or actions showing generosity or kindness. Do not confuse with beneficial (having good effects) or benign (harmless).

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Study Deeper

Examples

The benevolent donor funded scholarships for underprivileged students.
Her benevolent nature made her a beloved figure in the community.

Synonyms

kindgenerouscharitablephilanthropicmagnanimous

Antonyms

malevolentcruelunkind

Etymology

From Latin benevolent- 'well-wishing,' from bene 'good' + velle 'to wish'; the suffix -ent denotes an adjective.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: Benevolent = good-willed. Remember 'bene' means good and 'volent' sounds like volunteer—a benevolent person is a good-willed volunteer who helps others.

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Benign

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Adversary

noun

An opponent; a foe; an enemy.

Harbor

verb

To shelter or provide refuge for someone; to conceal or protect; to hold in the mind (as in harboring a thought, feeling, or grievance).

Terse

adjective

Brief and to the point; using few words, often in a sharp or brusque manner.

Similar Words

Related words and words with the same part of speech.

Magnanimous

adjective

Greathearted; nobly generous.

Altruistic

adjective

Showing a selfless concern for the welfare of others; unselfishly generous.

Abstruse

adjective

Difficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.

Accidental

adjective

Happening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.

Acerbic

adjective

Sharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.

Acquiescent

adjective

Ready to agree or approve without protest; compliant.

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