gift 1 of 2

gift

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verb

as in to bless
to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute gifted with an uncanny ability to persuade people to do things they ordinarily wouldn't

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun gift differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gift are aptitude, bent, faculty, genius, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When can aptitude be used instead of gift?

The words aptitude and gift can be used in similar contexts, but aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

How do bent and aptitude relate to one another, in the sense of gift?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

Where would faculty be a reasonable alternative to gift?

In some situations, the words faculty and gift are roughly equivalent. However, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

When could genius be used to replace gift?

The meanings of genius and gift largely overlap; however, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When would knack be a good substitute for gift?

Although the words knack and gift have much in common, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

In what contexts can talent take the place of gift?

The synonyms talent and gift are sometimes interchangeable, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gift
Noun
All the News Dear All the News: What a wonderful gift your dad gave your family. R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 28 Nov. 2024 Gaming TVs: Elevate the Gaming Experience For the gamers in your life, a Gaming TV is the perfect gift to enhance their experience. Nia Bowers, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
Holiday gifting just got an upgrade — skip the sleigh and give the gift of zipping through the streets with the Navee V25 e-scooter. New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2024 John Doman, a Pioneer Press photographer for decades, was gifted in capturing the essence of a moment and displaying humanity in a photograph through his curiosity and compassion. Natasha Delion, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gift 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • While California law does not mandate automatic recounts, both candidates have been seeking donations to fund one if that does happen.
    Hanna Kang, Orange County Register, 16 Nov. 2024
  • The donations will be given to Owen's Community Closet and Food Pantry, a part of Van Buren Public Schools.
    Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Originally founded in 1998, the event’s modern iteration prioritizes elevating Miami’s local talent.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
  • Despite possessing All-Star talent on the roster, the squad struggled to begin the year and lost eight of its first 10 games.
    Sam Joseph, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The fact that we are blessed to live in America, the greatest country on Earth -- and that's not hyperbole.
    Molly Nagle, ABC News, 25 Nov. 2024
  • Yet we Hugh-heads have been blessed with all kinds of interesting news lately.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Do a Secret Santa Exchange Similar to a white elephant gift exchange, secret Santa gift swaps are an easy way to give presents to friends and coworkers.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2024
  • Keep scrolling to see presents from Ugg, Yankee Candle, Spanx, KitchenAid, and more.
    Lindsey Greenfeld, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • So in the case of Hollywood, for example, the idea is to recruit and identify talented young professionals who have a knack for content creation and other aspects of the production of entertainment.
    Obed Manuel, NPR, 25 Nov. 2024
  • Feng has a knack for running elaborate schemes for the Asian mob and has become an asset to international crime bosses worldwide.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • For example, Porsche endowed the 992 GT3 with a double wishbone setup in the front of the car for the first time in the 911’s history, which helps the car turn into corners with more agility and urgency.
    Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2024
  • Ultimately, a federal system that endows states with substantial authority can act as a powerful custodian of democracy, one that goes well beyond the mere involvement of state officials in the electoral system.
    Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Perhaps earmark some of those funds for a reissue of the Beastie Boys’ third album, Ill Communication, which is out now in a massive presentation across three 180g LPs with lenticular cover art and 12 bonus cuts and remixes, all stored in a hard slipcase.
    Jason Pettigrew, SPIN, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The parade will be broadcast live on NBC, with an encore presentation at 2 p.m. Is there a live stream of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
    Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Trump has never shown much of an aptitude for the nuances of crypto, but he’s welcomed the industry’s financial support.
    MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Paul Rudd was a wonderful choice for Ben Glenroy, a movie star who dabbled in franchise tentpoles but came alive due to Rudd’s comedic aptitude.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near gift

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

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