Word
benevolent
Meanings
Kind and generous; wanting to help people.
Using power or authority in a kindly, well-meaning way.
Definition
Benevolent describes someone who is kind, generous, and wants to help others.
If a person is benevolent, they are friendly and caring, and they often do things to benefit other people. Benevolent actions can include giving money, offering support, or using power in a kind way. The word is often used for leaders, organizations, or donors who help others.
Examples
- The benevolent neighbor brought soup when I was sick.
- She is known for her benevolent support of local schools.
- The company took a benevolent approach to helping employees during the crisis.
- A benevolent donor paid for the new library wing.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse benevolent with beneficial; benevolent describes a person’s kind intention, while beneficial describes something that produces a good result.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
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- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.