Meaning & use
benevolent
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Kind and generous in spirit, with a genuine wish to do good and help other people.
Grammar: Can stand before a noun or after a linking verb: a benevolent smile; she was benevolent.
Patterns
- a benevolent person/leader
- benevolent toward(s) someone
- be/feel benevolent
The benevolent old man left most of his money to the local hospital.
She had a warm, benevolent manner that put visitors at ease.
The club was run by a benevolent committee that never took a salary.
adjectivebefore a nounformal
Connected with a society or fund that gives money or help to people in need.
Grammar: Almost always used before a noun to describe organizations or funds, not people.
Patterns
- a benevolent fund/society
- a benevolent institution
She received a small grant from a workplace benevolent fund.
The benevolent society was founded in 1890 to support retired sailors.
Word forms
| comparative | more benevolent |
|---|---|
| superlative | most benevolent |
Common combinations
- benevolent dictator
- The boss was a benevolent dictator: strict, but always fair and generous.
- a benevolent smile
- She greeted the new students with a benevolent smile.
- benevolent toward(s) someone
- The charity is especially benevolent toward families in crisis.
- a benevolent fund
- Workers can apply to the benevolent fund in an emergency.
Synonyms and how they differ
- kind
- Kind is the everyday word for caring behavior; benevolent is more formal and suggests steady, generous intentions.
- charitable
- Charitable focuses on giving money or help to the less fortunate; benevolent covers a wider warm-hearted attitude.
- generous
- Generous stresses willingness to give time, money, or help; benevolent adds a kindly motive behind the giving.
Opposites
Word family
- benevolence noun
- the quality of being kind and wanting to help others.
- benevolently adverb
- in a kind, well-meaning way.
Commonly confused: benevolent or malevolent?
benevolent vs malevolent
Malevolent means wishing harm to others; it is the opposite of benevolent, not a synonym.
Practice
Choose the best sentence using “benevolent.”
Choose one answer.
Benevolent means kindly and wanting to help, so paying for school meals fits. Raising tax rates, a frightening frown, and an alarm do not show kindness.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “benevolent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.