Benevolent
Kindly disposed; well meaning and generous; charitable
adjectiveBenevolent
Kindly disposed; well meaning and generous; charitable
adjectiveImagine This
If someone is good to those who are violent, he or she must be very generous and friendly.
Sounds Like
buh-NEV-uh-luhnt
Looks Like
bene- + -volent; resembles 'bene-' meaning good and '-volent' from Latin volere to wish
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).
Other Forms
Connect With
kind, generous, charitable, benevolence, philanthropic, magnanimous, altruistic
Note
Uses describe people or actions showing generosity or kindness. Do not confuse with beneficial (having good effects) or benign (harmless).
Study Deeper
- The benevolent donor funded scholarships for underprivileged students.
- Her benevolent nature made her a beloved figure in the community.
From Latin benevolent- 'well-wishing,' from bene 'good' + velle 'to wish'; the suffix -ent denotes an adjective.
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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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Magnanimous
adjectiveGreathearted; nobly generous.
Altruistic
adjectiveShowing a selfless concern for the welfare of others; unselfishly generous.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.