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
Lisa Kudrow is revisiting a sentimental gift from her late Friends castmate Matthew Perry. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025 In 1740, when Boston was a colonial outpost of 16,500 people, an extravagantly wealthy merchant named Peter Faneuil offered his city a gift. Michael Snyder, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
Cabinet dividers can also be used to stack cutting boards, oven pans, and all the cheeseboards you’ve been gifted for every occasion since college. Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 3 Jan. 2025 What To Know The 7.5-carat diamond gifted to Jill Biden from Modi was easily the most expensive gift given to any member of the first family in 2023. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gift 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • Sports leagues and 12 LA sports teams, including the Lakers and the Dodgers, have made donations to fire relief efforts in Los Angeles.
    Alex Sherman, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025
  • In the 2010 case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that campaign contributions are political free speech and that caps on political donations are unconstitutional.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is one of only a handful of Historically Black Colleges and Universities included in a program from global biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb that aims to help diverse talent succeed in the biopharma industry.
    Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 12 Jan. 2025
  • By adopting these trends, CEOs can cultivate healthier, happier, and more productive workforces, gain a competitive edge in talent acquisition, and ultimately drive better business outcomes.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • We were blessed to have LA fire and police depts doing their jobs so well.
    Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Does reading about sharks that can walk on land fill you with awe about our planet and the incredible adaptations that animals are blessed with to survive and thrive?
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • At present, Sweden’s Volvo is thought to be the only large automaker to have managed to comply with the target, alongside U.S. EV manufacturer Tesla and some Chinese companies.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025
  • At present, OpenAI is a long way from profitability.
    Tharin Pillay, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Linehan noted Hamper’s role evolved from being more of a blocker in the run game to being utilized as a pass-catcher on tunnel screens and intermediate throws because of his knack for finding open lanes.
    Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Lawrence Kansas Jayhawks guard Shakeel Moore has a knack for making big plays on the basketball court.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Here the whole thing is happening in months, not years, where humans are endowing their creations with quickly evolving capabilities.
    John Werner, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Even in the character’s most transparently manipulative moments, Pearce endows him with a seductive conviviality—a bracing largeness of spirit.
    Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Where to Watch Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Announcement Nintendo will livestream its Direct presentation on its official YouTube and Twitch channels.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The annual event is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious presentation of Indigenous art in the world.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Louis Jourdan, Count Dracula (1977) This BBC TV movie is a faithful adaptation of the book, and Jourdan plays a Dracula who teems with ghoulish sophistication as a refined intellectual with an aptitude for language and etymology.
    Celia Mattison, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Similarly, Remy’s middle-class upbringing doesn’t account for his own aptitude, which isn’t dissimilar from Ayden’s, even if Ayden is further along with his welding skills.
    Rachel Kushner, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near gift

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

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