beneficence

noun

bə-ˈne-fə-sən(t)s How to pronounce beneficence (audio)
Definition of beneficencenext
1
as in contribution
a gift of money or its equivalent to a charity, humanitarian cause, or public institution the town library stays open primarily through beneficences from concerned residents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in kindness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others a religious leader whose beneficence is felt by all who meet him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beneficence Moreover, Southern plantation owners carried out a robust propaganda effort to extol the beneficence of their economic system. — Gerry Lanosga, The Conversation, 17 Nov. 2025 Trump’s pardon beneficence has also shone on former House Republicans in Southern California, notably a pair who each once represented parts of the San Diego area. — David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025 Worse, five sisters have tried to save its life, defying both the mysterious beneficence that brought the fish to shore and local norms dictating that it must be killed for food. — Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2025 Paula Keeler, 74, took a break from her recent shift inspecting produce to discuss the organization’s beneficence. — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for beneficence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beneficence
  1. contribution
  2. kindness
  3. donation
  4. tenderness
Noun
  • In the document containing questions to ask Entergy witnesses, the commissioners were pressed by the commissioners' staff to ask utility officials about the payments not being treated as a contribution in aid of construction.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
  • However, a November 2025 McKinsey global survey found that only 39% of respondents had seen AI affect company-wide operating profit, and most of that group said the contribution remained below 5%.
    — Erum Manzoor, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of contribution
Noun
  • If someone consistently behaves with kindness, generosity, and consideration, even when these behaviors require effort or self-restraint, their motives may be less important than their actions.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The singer was so well known for helping out that fake stories are hard to refute, because even extraordinary acts of kindness sound like something Parton would do.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • According to the organization, the donation is the largest private donation that Rozana USA has ever received.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In lieu of flowers, Parton’s family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
    — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of donation
Noun
  • These pockets expand in the oven to give your cookies lift, tenderness, and structure.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Some of the skin is peeling a skosh more than they’d all like, though, a result of the potatoes’ tenderness.
    — Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tenderness

Browse Nearby Words

benefic
beneficence
beneficences
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Cite this Entry

“Beneficence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beneficence. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on beneficence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beneficence

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