1
as in soothing
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
use a gentle detergent on that delicate silk blouse her gentle ways
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temperate
marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low
whisk the egg yolks in a double boiler set over a gentle heat
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3
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station
loved reading about the days when gentle lords and ladies danced at fancy balls
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4
as in soft
not loud in pitch or volume
the mother spoke in a gentle voice to her child
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as in noble
a man or woman of high birth or social position
the archbishop treated both the gentles and the commoners with respect and kindness
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1
as in to appease
to lessen the anger or agitation of
employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day
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2
as in to caress
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
soothingly gentled his cat's head as she was being treated by the vet
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3
as in to soften
to lessen the shock of
adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gentle
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 21 Aug. 2025
How to treat forehead acne Dr. Libby recommends washing with a gentle cleanser that has salicylic acid, which is able to penetrate the pores and dislodge some of the gunk that could be causing the breakout in the first place.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 20 Aug. 2025
Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024
This gentle for your skin option features collagen, and other ingredients known to help lock in moisture in your skin for reduced risk of eczema breakouts.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2024
Jesse Green, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Lee: Agreed—and there are even more of those contrivances popping up around how the One Power seems to function, especially around stilling and gentling and shielding.
—Andrew Cunningham & Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 29 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for gentle
Adjective
What begins with step counts often grows into a broader awareness of overall health, reinforced by steady, gentle prompts from a device sitting quietly on the wrist.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 21 Aug. 2025
How to treat forehead acne Dr. Libby recommends washing with a gentle cleanser that has salicylic acid, which is able to penetrate the pores and dislodge some of the gunk that could be causing the breakout in the first place.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
Thursday’s weather will be mostly sunny, with a gentle to moderate breeze expected, although there will be occasional gusts up to 23 mph.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024
This gentle for your skin option features collagen, and other ingredients known to help lock in moisture in your skin for reduced risk of eczema breakouts.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2024
Verb
The material doesn’t want sophisticated adults mucking about in it or, worse, gentling its hard edges for commercial consumption.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Lee: Agreed—and there are even more of those contrivances popping up around how the One Power seems to function, especially around stilling and gentling and shielding.
—Andrew Cunningham & Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 29 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for gentle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentle
Adjective
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The suite’s interiors reflect the nature on the doorstep, with a soothing color palette of earthy browns, soft taupes and warm greens.—
Angelina Villa-Clarke,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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And to keep the delicate eye area calm, La Roche-Posay’s signature thermal spring water provides a soothing, antioxidant boost, helping ease irritation while addressing the water retention that often contributes to puffiness.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Those individuals experienced up to an 8 percent additional drop in kidney function each year compared with those living in temperate climates.—
Nora Bradford,
Scientific American,
29 July 2025
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The list includes places like Malta, a five-island nation with terrific beaches, a temperate climate and low crime, and Belize, the only Central American country with English as its official language.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
The psychological drama, which stars Satya Dev in the title role, showcases an elaborate poster featuring the actor in aristocratic regalia surrounded by peacock feathers and ornate details.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
12 Aug. 2025
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The $80,000 price tag includes two people and almost all expenses, including five-star accommodations and a range of one-of-a-kind activities that immerse travelers in Italian culture, history, and aristocratic lifestyle, all in the lap of luxury.—
Rebecca Deurlein,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Another classic silhouette, Arhaus’s blend of jute and cotton makes this rug feel slightly softer underfoot.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
13 Aug. 2025
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The latter gets rid of flaky skin, while the balm keeps them soft.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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However, to prevent the glass furnaces from causing fires, the nobles exiled the glassmakers – under penalty of death – to the island of Murano.—
Peter Mullner,
The Conversation,
3 July 2025
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Landscape paintings and portraits of nobles jostled for attention alongside historical paintings and imagined scenes from Shakespeare’s plays.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
China sells hybrids and EVs for maximum penetration While some brands offer hybrids and plug-in hybrids to appease those buyers not yet ready to make the switch to full-electric, most Chinese cars sold in Australia are electric.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
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Certain elements of iconography carried over, but the tone has mostly been serious, toeing a delicate line to appease fans while also attracting general audiences of all ages and backgrounds.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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From the moment that Jerry Goldsmith’s piano tinkles caress the opening bars of his score while stars float past the frame, anyone with a soul knows that this is not your average IP cash-in.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
20 Aug. 2025
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The post included multiple clips of the couple, beginning with one in which Howard was caressing the diamond ring on Luciani’s left ring finger.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
8 July 2025
Verb
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There are some signs that the lack of enthusiasm from buyers across the country is translating into softening sales prices.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Cook until the fruit starts to soften, about 5 minutes.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentle. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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