kindliness

noun

ˈkīn(d)-lē-nəs How to pronounce kindliness (audio)
Definition of kindlinessnext
1
as in friendship
kindly concern, interest, or support was touched by the kindliness of his neighbors, who voluntarily took care of his dog while he was in the hospital

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2
as in kindness
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune as a result of her kindliness, several poor families have the makings for a Thanksgiving feast

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tenderness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others an elderly couple of modest means but infinite kindliness

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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 kindliness What was needed was a distanced kindliness—patience, an acknowledgment of the mess that was unfolding, an explanation of a way through, a reiteration of the soundness of the larger vision. — Peggy Noonan, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2021 Augustus didn’t emerge from uncertain beginnings and civil war through kindliness and good deeds; nor did Jahangir win the throne by patience and piety. — Maxwell Carter, WSJ, 13 July 2018 Weinberg’s memoir doesn’t aspire to the depth of Feeney’s study, but its fealty and kindliness have their own appeal. — Thomas Mallon, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2018 Grandpa is hung-over, grandma has run out of kindliness, Mom has post-traumatic hostess stress. — Wired Staff, WIRED, 26 Dec. 2003 Mr. McCartney was the exception, radiating aw-shucks kindliness and preaching heartfelt peace and love in many of his songs. — Jon Pareles, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindliness
  1. friendship
  2. kindness
  3. tenderness
  4. generosity
  5. sympathy
  6. friendliness
  7. compassion
  8. cordiality
Noun
  • In With Love, Markle is joined by celebrity friends like Roy Choi, Mindy Kaling, and Alice Waters, who share personal tips and tricks, as Markle showcases the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship.
    — Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 4 Mar. 2025
  • In the face of the destruction that occurs and the lives lost, Adra and Abraham form an unexpected friendship.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of friendship
Noun
  • Beyond baseball, Art was known for his kindness, humor, and deep appreciation for the people around him.
    — Daniel Brown, The Athletic, 9 Mar. 2025
  • And for Katelyn, the internet's kindness has arrived exactly at the right time.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • Friedland builds her drama through sharp honesty, and tough as its material may be, few films are so tonally flexible, so able to turn on a dime: stray moments of tenderness, humility, even absurdity poke through, with a love and care for Ruth shown by characters and creators alike.
    — Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2025
  • That means taking off your shoe and sock and checking for any sign of injury such as any tenderness, swelling, bruising, deformity, laceration or bones sticking through the skin.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of tenderness
Noun
  • Inspired by the Bedouin tradition of generosity, which involves welcoming guests with food, drink, and open hospitality, Killa sought to evoke the feeling of being invited into a private home or aboard a luxurious yacht.
    — Katharina Kotrba, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • But, the most remarkable outpouring of generosity has come from the workers themselves, engaging in collective action to assist their colleagues.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of generosity
Noun
  • Matt starts garnering sympathy for Hector in the courtroom.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • But the comments section had less sympathy for the irate woman and determined the poster was not in the wrong.
    — Moná Thomas, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of sympathy
Noun
  • The big picture: Trump's friendliness toward Putin isn't a new phenomenon.
    — Dave Lawler, Axios, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Eschewing cult-leader cliché for a plummy everyday friendliness that eventually circles round to sinister, Ben Whishaw cleverly plays Elon as equal parts guru and grifter: His counsel is sometimes obvious, but what the person needs to hear just the same.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Dec. 2024
Definition of friendliness
Noun
  • As recent entries in the subgenre have proven, there’s plenty of compassion to be squeezed from the slasher genre as well.
    — Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
  • And this week, Gordon added the Ed Block Courage Award to his resume, recognized by teammates for his courage, compassion, commitment and community service.
    — Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of compassion
Noun
  • Such cordiality was impossible this time, and Dirk Hauser — head of media for Bayern’s academy then and to this day — had to keep the two men apart, in different parts of the old stadium.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Hold on to your butts, Samuel L. Jackson is coming after awards season cordiality.
    — Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 28 Nov. 2024
Definition of cordiality

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Cite this Entry

“Kindliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindliness. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

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