gentleness

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈdʒɛntəlnəs/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The quality of being kind, tender, and mild in manner or disposition; softness of character.; The quality of being mild or moderate in degree; lack of harshness or severity.; Nobility of birth or rank; high social standing (archaic).

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

with gentlenessgentleness of voicegentleness and kindnesstreat with gentleness

Derivatives

gentlegentlygentlergentlestungentle

Synonyms

tendernesssoftnessmildnesskindnessdelicacymeekness

Antonyms

harshnessroughnesscrueltyseverity

Commonly confused

gentility
EN: 'Gentility' refers to social refinement or upper-class status, while 'gentleness' refers to the quality of being mild and tender.

Spelling tips

EN: Retain the 'e' from 'gentle' before adding '-ness'; do not write *'gentlness'.

💬 Examples

  1. She handled the newborn baby with remarkable gentleness.

  2. The gentleness of the spring rain nourished the young seedlings.

  3. In medieval tales, gentleness of blood was often equated with virtue.