benevolent meaning

UK US /bəˈnɛvələnt/ 4 syllables

benevolent (adjective): intending or showing kindness.

benevolent has 4 meanings in this dictionary.

benevolent as an adjective

  1. intending or showing kindness
    • a benevolent society

    Related forms: benevolence

  2. showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
    • was charitable in his opinions of others
    • kindly criticism
    • a kindly act
    • sympathetic words
    • a large-hearted mentor

    Synonyms: charitable, kindly, sympathetic, good-hearted, openhearted, large-hearted

    Similar: kind

  3. generous in providing aid to others

    Synonyms: freehearted

    Similar: generous

  4. generous in assistance to the poor
    • a benevolent contributor
    • eleemosynary relief
    • philanthropic contributions

    Synonyms: beneficent, eleemosynary, philanthropic

    Similar: charitable

How to pronounce benevolent

benevolent is pronounced /bəˈnɛvələnt/ in American English. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.

Words that rhyme with benevolent

Word lists: words starting with BE · words ending in NT · 10-letter words

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