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gentle

gen·tle

gentle

 
 
pronunciation:
jen tl
parts of speech:
adjective, transitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, verb), Word History, Word Builder, Word Explorer
part of speech: adjective
inflections: gentler, gentlest
definition 1: without harshness, aggressiveness, or violence.
A gentle breeze blew through the leaves.The cleanser is very gentle to the skin.His mother told him to be gentle with the kitten.
synonyms:
balmy, mild, moderate, smooth, soft
antonyms:
abusive, acidulous, biting, brutal, extreme, ferocious, fierce, furious, hard, harsh, heavy, jarring, rough, severe, sharp, strident, vicious, violent
similar words:
bland, easy, halcyon, light, mellow, peaceful
definition 2: possessing a kind or generous disposition; tender; sweet.
My mother was a gentle woman who cared for those in need.
synonyms:
amiable, benevolent, benign, humane, kind, mild, sweet, tender
antonyms:
ferocious, rough, stern
similar words:
affable, bighearted, considerate, gracious, largehearted, merciful, thoughtful
definition 3: gradual or mild; not steep or abrupt.
We easily hiked up the gentle slope.
synonyms:
gradual, mild
antonyms:
abrupt, sharp, steep
similar words:
bland, moderate, slight
definition 4: of animals, easily managed or controlled.
He gave the child a gentle horse to ride.
synonyms:
docile, manageable, tractable
similar words:
broken, domestic, meek, tame
definition 5: of a high-ranking family within a society's class system (often used in combination).
He could tell by her manners that she was a woman of gentle birth.He had no choice but to marry a gentlewoman.
synonyms:
thoroughbred, well-born, well-bred
antonyms:
lowly
similar words:
aristocratic, genteel, highborn, noble, patrician, respectable
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: gentles, gentling, gentled
definition 1: to make calm or gentle.
synonyms:
appease, lull, mollify, pacify, quiet, smooth, soothe, still, tranquilize
similar words:
melt
definition 2: to make tame.
synonyms:
domesticate, tame
similar words:
break, dominate, master, subdue
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: gently (adv.), gentleness (n.)
Word History
Gentle comes from a Latin word that means "of the same family or race." The present use of "gentle" first occurred in the 1200s.
Word Builder: gentle +
  • gently:
    in a gentle way.
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