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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective generous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of generous are bountiful, liberal, and munificent. While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

Where would bountiful be a reasonable alternative to generous?

The synonyms bountiful and generous are sometimes interchangeable, but bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

When might liberal be a better fit than generous?

In some situations, the words liberal and generous are roughly equivalent. However, liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

When is munificent a more appropriate choice than generous?

The words munificent and generous can be used in similar contexts, but munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

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 generous Mykola was more generous in his assessment of Trump. Michael Holtz, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025 Federal funding over the next four years will become far less generous and the state is not in a position to take on the responsibility for a greater share of the construction costs. Phillip Molnar, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025 News Of The Week Forbes released its annual list of America’s most generous philanthropists this month, and the lifetime giving of the nation’s top 25 philanthropists through December 30, 2024 rose to $241 billion–$30 billion more than last year’s total. Maggie McGrath, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025 The benefits of shopping for Shark tools at Nordstrom include a generous return policy and access to steep discounts during the retailer’s Anniversary Sale. Claire Sullivan, WWD, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for generous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for generous
Adjective
  • Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Only his charitable contributions were signed and dated, said Lanham, his business partner.
    Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Outdoor activities are plentiful, from the numerous hiking trails to the Contoocook River, which offers boating, fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
  • For example, cheap labor and service means women in major cities can outsource domestic tasks to workers who migrate into the cities, supplementing that free and plentiful childcare.
    Rocio Wu, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There is now a four-to-three liberal majority on the court, but Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, a liberal who has sat on the court since 1995, is retiring, putting the court’s majority on the ballot.
    Theodore Schleifer, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
  • In doing so, AI can become a formidable assistant for statecraft: not just echoing an outdated Western-centric consensus on cooperation and liberal norms, but adaptively evolving to meet the complex, fluid challenges shaping tomorrow's global order.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • While that will probably have to be in the form of a major trade, Briere didn’t shoot down a suggestion that the Flyers, now with an ample amount of salary cap space this coming offseason, could wade into free agency.
    Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Spacious toe boxes offer ample space for your feet to sit comfortably without feeling squished, and adjustable straps at the tops of the shoes allow for a snug and secure fit.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The benevolent master of ceremonies left a care kit beneath each audience member's seat for the nearly four-hour show.
    Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
  • In Thai Buddhist lore, these trees, thousands of which spike Koh Samui, are home to benevolent spirits, says political scientist Pavin Chachavalpongpun, from the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Japan’s Kyoto University.
    Ronan O'Connell, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Generous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/generous. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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