mild

adjective

ˈmī(-ə)ld 

1

: gentle in nature or behavior

has a mild disposition

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

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

• balmy
• clement
• equable
• genial
• gentle
• moderate
• soft
• temperate

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

The snowpack would provide constant runoff for rivers and streams and lakes, a riparian cornucopia ensuring only the mildest wildfires would ever come for our arboreal paradise. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

While moderate to severe ailments require a certain amount of rest and recovery, mild ones might improve with movement. —Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025

Even if a vaccinated person does develop the illness, symptoms are generally mild and the illness is less contagious. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025

Symptoms can be mild to severe, affecting some or many parts of the body. —Sarah Bradley, Health, 6 Apr. 2025

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