benevolent
/bəˈnɛvələnt/
Group 24Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Well-meaning and kindly; serving a charitable purpose GRE
Example in Context
The society was established by a benevolent industrialist who devoted his fortune to improving educational opportunities for the disadvantaged.
Synonyms
kindgenerouscompassionate
Etymology
Wishing for good — someone who is kind and charitable.
- bene- (Latin) — good
- volent (Latin) — wishing
Memory Aid
😇Sounds like “been evil”
If you’ve ‘been evil’, you’re definitely NOT a BENEvolent person!
Visual Association
❤️A giant heart shining brightly over a community, spreading kindness and goodwill.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “benevolent” mean on the GRE?
benevolent (adjective) means “Well-meaning and kindly; serving a charitable purpose”. The society was established by a benevolent industrialist who devoted his fortune to improving educational opportunities for the disadvantaged.
How to remember “benevolent” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “benevolent” sounds like “been evil”. If you’ve ‘been evil’, you’re definitely NOT a BENEvolent person!
What are synonyms for “benevolent”?
Common synonyms: kind, generous, compassionate.