1
as in soothing
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
use a gentle detergent on that delicate silk blouse her gentle ways
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2
as in temperate
marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low
whisk the egg yolks in a double boiler set over a gentle heat
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3
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station
loved reading about the days when gentle lords and ladies danced at fancy balls
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4
as in soft
not loud in pitch or volume
the mother spoke in a gentle voice to her child
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as in noble
a man or woman of high birth or social position
the archbishop treated both the gentles and the commoners with respect and kindness
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1
as in to appease
to lessen the anger or agitation of
employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day
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2
as in to caress
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
soothingly gentled his cat's head as she was being treated by the vet
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3
as in to soften
to lessen the shock of
adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of gentle
Kelly Lambert, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Mary Collier was a kind and gentle person whose thoughts were focused on other people and her children.
—Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 11 Nov. 2024
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2024
Glock’s music is historically not a statement of record for the sheepish and the gentle.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2023
John Benson, cleveland, 24 Mar. 2022
While a traditional blow dryer pushes air out and causes frizz, a diffuser will just gentle dry hair without any friction.
—Tatjana Freund, ELLE, 28 July 2022
See all Example Sentences for gentle 
Adjective
Fellow neuroscientists identified this as a gentler form of what’s called Straub tail, typically seen in rats given the opioid morphine.
—Kelly Lambert, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Mary Collier was a kind and gentle person whose thoughts were focused on other people and her children.
—Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
This gentle for your skin option features collagen, and other ingredients known to help lock in moisture in your skin for reduced risk of eczema breakouts.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2024
Glock’s music is historically not a statement of record for the sheepish and the gentle.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2023
Verb
Not only can gentle strains of honey bees -- if the bees are properly located and carefully managed -- be maintained within populated areas without causing a nuisance, but a resident having an apiary will not increase the number of bees in a neighboring yard.
—John Benson, cleveland, 24 Mar. 2022
While a traditional blow dryer pushes air out and causes frizz, a diffuser will just gentle dry hair without any friction.
—Tatjana Freund, ELLE, 28 July 2022
See all Example Sentences for gentle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentle
Adjective
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It’s infused with Korean centella asiatica, renowned for its powerful soothing properties.Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024
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Hatch employees worked alongside KFC's food innovation team to record the soothing sounds of frying KFC's new Original Recipe Tenders.Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Some Indigenous leaders say NOAA’s tribal consultation process fell short, but most agree the sanctuary is a step forward for conservation of the ocean, which provides Californians food, a temperate climate and recreation.Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
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On a temperate afternoon at London’s All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Barbora Krejčíková of the Czech Republic and Jasmine Paolini of Italy both played their first Wimbledon singles final on Saturday, with Krejčíková, the 31-seed, winning the match 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.Vogue, Vogue, 13 July 2024
Adjective
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The mood was one of happy improvisation, a sort of aristocratic Fawlty Towers art-directed by Slim Aarons.Nick Foulkes, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024
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Hotel Esencia | Originally the private home of an Italian Duchess located 45-minutes north of Tulum, Esencia maintains its aristocratic character in the hands of owner Kevin Wendle.Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Manu San Felix / National Geographic The Solomon Islands have the world’s second-highest coral diversity, with more than 490 species of hard and soft corals.Peter Guo, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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The decrease is attributed to a reduction in overall volume for OEM customers and a general reduction in demand for orthopedic soft bracing products.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
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One Person, One Vote? sets out to change that by looking at four 2020 presidential electors, a Republican, a Democrat, a Green, and of course, a Kanye West elector, all of whose motivations range from the noble to somewhat absurd.Anne Easton, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
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This is because, for centuries, equestrianism has been considered a hobby, sport, pastime, and passion for Royal families and nobles in European nations.Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 18 May 2024
Verb
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But no further arrests have been made, and more threats have come in despite authorities stepping up security measures, threatening legal punishments, appeasing airlines and reassuring panicked passengers.Jessie Yeung, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
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Trump has more recently waffled on his view, trying to strike a balance between appeasing traditional GOP voter bases while also appealing to undecided voters who could determine the November election.Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2024
Verb
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In another series of photos, Dale and Strings are standing by a pond while the singer caresses his wife’s baby bump.Emma Kershaw, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
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The round texture with supple tannins, like ribbons of silk caressing the palate, is impressive, with fresh tobacco notes that balance the generous fruit.Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables and fruit are softened and start to turn golden, about 15 minutes.Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
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The decrease is attributed to market conditions softening and the loss of customers.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near gentle
Cite this Entry
“Gentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentle. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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