Your Smart Vocabulary Companion

Etymology

From Latin "benevolens," from "bene" (well) + "velle" (to wish). Literally means "wishing well" for others. The word entered English in the 15th century.

Usage Examples

1. "The benevolent donor gave millions to build schools in underprivileged communities."

2. "She had a benevolent smile that immediately put strangers at ease."

3. "The king was known for his benevolent rule, always considering his subjects' welfare."

Synonyms

• Kind
• Generous
• Charitable
• Compassionate
• Philanthropic

Antonyms

• Malevolent
• Cruel
• Unkind
• Hostile
• Selfish

Fun Facts

• Many organizations use "benevolent" in their names (like "Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks") to emphasize their charitable mission.
• The phrase "benevolent dictator" is used in open-source software communities to describe someone who has final say but exercises power for the common good.
• Psychology research shows that benevolent behavior activates the same pleasure centers in the brain as receiving rewards.

Word Family

• Benevolence (noun): The quality of being benevolent
• Benevolently (adverb): In a benevolent manner
• Malevolent (adjective): The opposite - wishing evil upon others