1
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a beneficent couple who are regular volunteers at a homeless shelter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in charitable
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others
a beneficent effort to help out the needy during the holidays
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in beneficial
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being
cultural activities have a beneficent effect on a community that can't be measured in dollars and cents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of beneficent
With the monetary system in a free-fall, some Iranians would rather have a beneficent king than all these pretenders oh-so-interested in the people.
—
Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
But in Las Vegas, where spectacle-over-substance is kind of the whole point, the Wizard was a beneficent showman.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
Far away from the old, broken planet, a libertarian utopia will flourish, under the beneficent sway of the Elon.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
Both center-left and center-right in the West coalesce around calls for more porous borders, freer trade, and open minds, calling them either inevitable or beneficent, or more often both at once.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
See All Example Sentences for beneficent
Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
But in Las Vegas, where spectacle-over-substance is kind of the whole point, the Wizard was a beneficent showman.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
Far away from the old, broken planet, a libertarian utopia will flourish, under the beneficent sway of the Elon.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
Both center-left and center-right in the West coalesce around calls for more porous borders, freer trade, and open minds, calling them either inevitable or beneficent, or more often both at once.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
See All Example Sentences for beneficent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beneficent
Adjective
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For Egyptians, crops would not grow without Horus and his benevolent eye shining down between the clouds.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
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The overflow doctor had benevolent eyes and doughy cheeks, like fresh loaves of bread.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Swift has previously made several charitable donations, including $100,000 in February 2024, to the family of a woman killed at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade, and $1 million in December 2023 toward natural disaster relief after storms in Tennessee.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
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That ordeal pushed Chirac toward the charitable work that reshaped her public image.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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The waterless cooling approach is also beneficial in areas where water is scarce, but sunlight is plentiful.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
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Zoli’s lofty warehouse space continues Amant’s design sensibility, employing and elevating simple materials like concrete, brick, and wood, which, says Ebers, are visually warm and acoustically beneficial (a boon nowadays when having a conversation in a restaurant can be increasingly challenging).—
Fiorella Valdesolo,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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And that’s what drove me creatively — to be authentic, but to be compassionate.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
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The unconscious Moon in your 8th House of Intimacy forms a graceful trine with compassionate Venus in your 12th House of Solitude, inviting release without drama.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Carrying forward the philanthropic aspect of the partnership, $1 from every purchase in the Pride Collection will support EJAF’s mission to help end AIDS and combat LGBTQIA+ stigma around the world.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
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About the Rancho Santa Fe FoundationThe Rancho Santa Fe Foundation partners with individuals, families, and organizations to turn philanthropic vision into meaningful impact.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In the Eastern Pacific, the opposite occurs, with favorable conditions supporting above-average hurricane season activity.—
Daniel Peck,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
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Forecast confidence is increasing that some storms could become strong to severe on Sunday, especially along and north of I-20, where wind shear will be slightly more favorable for storm organization.—
Nelly Carreño,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Just don’t expect a lot of English–the hotel team were smiley and kind, but spoke a minimal amount.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
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Choose circles that feel kind, and show up consistently today.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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At least 10 others were wounded, the humanitarian aid group said.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
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The morning of June 6, Mellor was back at Boston Logan airport for another trip to Havana, at a time when the United States is trying to tighten economic strings to choke Cuba’s government into change, and the country faces a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beneficent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beneficent. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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