What is another word for benevolent?

Common synonyms for benevolent include kindly, openhearted, philanthropic, goodhearted, sympathetic.

What is the opposite of benevolent?

Antonyms of benevolent include malevolent, malicious, spiteful, wicked, cruel.

Synonyms for

Benevolent

Verb / bʌˈnevʌlʌnt / Another word for benevolent — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

showing kindness or goodwill

Synonyms & similar words

kindly openhearted philanthropic goodhearted sympathetic largehearted freehearted charitable beneficent eleemosynary kind good-hearted charitable compassionate generous humane altruistic philanthropic selfless thoughtful gracious magnanimous merciful sympathetic caring helpful considerate tolerant forgiving friendly

Synonyms by register

Formal

altruistic philanthropic magnanimous benevolent

Informal

kind good-hearted nice generous

Literary

benign gentle kindly

Antonyms

malevolent malicious spiteful wicked cruel unfriendly hostile

Common collocations

benevolent dictator
benevolent fund
benevolent smile
benevolent society
benevolent gaze
benevolent employer
benevolent nature

Word family

noun benevolence

adverb benevolently

Usage note

Benevolent implies a desire to do good and often suggests a position of power or influence from which good is dispensed. It carries a positive connotation of kindness and generosity.