gift 1 of 2

Definition of giftnext

gift

2 of 2

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

Example 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
The most genuinely useful Father's Day gift isn't a one-time cleanup. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 Scott McTominay was not always such a gift. Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Verb
Another image showed a massive bouquet of roses presumably gifted to her by Barker for their fourth wedding anniversary. Hannah Malach, InStyle, 16 June 2026 Their parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William, were gifted a pair of Jellycats at a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace last May, and the couple couldn't wait to pass them on to their kids. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones has raised millions, including helping to get $800,000 in donations to fund a replica of a historic ship for the maritime museum in his San Diego district.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • In a social media post, Lehman asked the community to come help support the store by asking for donations, asking people to shop at their store or online.
    Ray Campos, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Kamada said the talent and experience of his teammates helped Japan avoid being discouraged after falling behind for a second time.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
  • The talent was clearly there, but there was always a stumbling block.
    Mark Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • But there is something about catching a wild fish in its native environment, and in this country, we are blessed with an abundance of places to do just that.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026
  • God bless the United States of America.
    Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • On the plus side, the macro structure of the book—the pace of the plot, the tick-tock alternation between present and past in each chapter—was sound.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
  • At present, the two entities are not in partnership.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Ozzy was the frontman, the mad man, the comedian, with an uncanny knack of instantly conjuring the perfect vocal for each song.
    Steve Appleford, SPIN, 17 June 2026
  • Michelle Obama has long demonstrated a knack for conveying messages through her clothing, and her outfit on Tuesday poignantly exemplified her mastery of this skill.
    Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Libraries were endowed by industrial fortunes and the robber barons.
    The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
  • One of the main focuses of support for the campaign is to endow staff positions.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • The Basel presentation will be followed by a solo exhibition at the gallery’s Paris Turenne location in September.
    Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 13 June 2026
  • The unique presentation features a boston bottle holding 4 freezer martinis buried in chalic filled with ice.
    Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • The North Korean players’ physical aptitude was clear, but coaches were aware of their technical and tactical shortcomings.
    Andrew McNicol, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
  • But while Josh is a magnet for easy jabs about NPR tote bags and Sierra Club memberships, there’s almost nothing in his storylines to suggest an aptitude for or even interest in the work of actual journalism.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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