1
as in kind
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
brought homemade chicken soup out of kindly concern for my health
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpful
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being
a vegetarian diet can be very kindly to a person hoping to lose a few pounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in nicely
with good reason or courtesy
would you kindly hand me the scissors?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pretty
chiefly Southern
to some degree or extent
their visit was kindly a surprise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 kindly
Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Sister Claudine, the kindly nun who takes Suzanna to visit her mother after her grandfather’s death, is referred to as Sister.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Mostly, the post demonstrated how the president, who has flexed his political muscles in recent primary races and remains the most dominant force in the Republican Party, is not taking kindly to growing congressional unease with the conflict.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for kindly
Adjective
The economist’s description of the Fed chair was admiring, almost tender— comparing him to a kindly gardener who knew just how much sunlight to bestow upon the plants, or to a father figure who could keep his profligate and dissolute children on the right path.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Sister Claudine, the kindly nun who takes Suzanna to visit her mother after her grandfather’s death, is referred to as Sister.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Adverb
The building was, to put it kindly, not fancy.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Mostly, the post demonstrated how the president, who has flexed his political muscles in recent primary races and remains the most dominant force in the Republican Party, is not taking kindly to growing congressional unease with the conflict.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for kindly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindly
Adjective
-
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
-
Choose circles that feel kind, and show up consistently today.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Showing conclusively that any given meteoroid comes from interstellar space is a notoriously difficult task, but having more cameras on the sky to boost the odds for good trajectory and velocity measurements would be extremely helpful.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
-
The helpful fan kept the poster owner, and the Facebook group, up to speed.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Adverb
-
Exceptions include Rialto Pictures’ rerelease of Carol Reed’s classic 1949 film noir The Third Man, starring Orson Wells and written by Graham Greene, which did nicely at two theaters in new 35mm prints struck from an original internegative.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
14 June 2026
-
Available in black, white, or midnight blue, the headset features matte plastic earcups with big, soft memory foam earpads wrapped in a nicely supple faux leather.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
Adverb
-
First of all, the president’s name is redacted throughout, yet everything else seems pretty familiar to me.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
After the two hitters, the two outs felt pretty good.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
And that’s what drove me creatively — to be authentic, but to be compassionate.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
-
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
-
The waterless cooling approach is also beneficial in areas where water is scarce, but sunlight is plentiful.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
-
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
Adverb
-
Designing thoughtfully prevents costly mistakes and ensures a kitchen that works for daily life.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
15 June 2026
-
A little play tent with a play campfire had been thoughtfully set up for my kids in the living room.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Adverb
-
However, xGC estimates that even with Lionel Messi, their roster doesn’t quite contain the same threat as teams like France and Spain.—
Ethan Douglas,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
There's nothing quite like growing a classic apple tree (Malus domestica) in your garden.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindly. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
