mild

adjective

ˈmī(-ə)ld 

1

: gentle in nature or behavior

has a mild disposition

a mild-mannered man who rarely lost his temper

2

a(1)

: moderate in action or effect

a mild sedative

(2)

: not sharp, spicy, or bitter

mild cheese

mild ale

b

: not being or involving what is extreme

an analysis under mild conditions

a mild case of the flu

3

: not severe : temperate

a mild climate

mild symptoms of disease

mildly

mī(-ə)l(d)-lē 

adverb

mildness

ˈmī(-ə)l(d)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of mild

• temperate
• moderate
• gentle
• sunny

Examples of mild in a Sentence

He has a mild manner.

He was a mild-mannered man who rarely became angry.

They had a mild disagreement.

She has a mild case of the flu.

He suffered a mild concussion attack.

a mild reprimand, not a stern one

We've been having a very mild winter.

Recent Examples on the Web

If your sidewalk is made of brick, take a gentler approach—use mild dish soap or pH-neutral cleaners and a medium-bristle brush to remove dirt. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 June 2026

Beyond odors, baking soda cuts through grease buildup, giving it a second role as a mild scrubbing agent. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

In clinical trials, people taking a statin were slightly more likely to report mild muscle pain than people taking a placebo, but in the majority of those cases, the muscle pain had been caused by something other than the drug. — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 25 June 2026

Leather goods and footwear remain a challenge, although Bain noted mild improvements in H1 for the latter. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English milde; akin to Greek malthakos soft, Latin mollis — more at melt

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mild

• mild steel

Rhymes for mild

• filed
• piled
• riled
• smiled
• styled
• tiled
• wild
• beguiled
• brainchild
• compiled
• defiled
• exiled

Kids Definition

mild

adjective

ˈmī(ə)ld 

1

: gentle in nature or behavior

a mild person

2

a

: not strong in action or effect

a mild drug

b

: not sharp, spicy, or bitter

a mild cheese

3

: not severe : temperate sense 5

mild weather

mildly

ˈmī(ə)l-(d)lē 

adverb

mildness

ˈmī(ə)l(d)-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

mild

adjective

ˈmī(ə)ld 

1

: moderate in action or effect

a mild drug

2

: not severe

a mild case of the flu