gentle

/ˈdʒɛntl/

/ˈdʒɛntəl/

Other forms: gentler; gentlest; gentles; gentled; gentling

Use the adjective gentle to describe something that is soothing or kind, like a person with a tender nature or the soft sound of light rain.

The word gentle traces back to the Latin word gentlis, meaning “of the same clan,” and at first the world was used to describe people belonging to distinguished families, who were seen as courteous and noble. Nowadays you’re more likely to hear the word used to refer to things that are calm, moderate, and without harshness. The word is often applied to people, but it can be used more broadly to describe anything that is mild, such as "a gentle detergent" or "a gentle reminder."

Definitions of gentle

1. adjective

   soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
   “a gentle reprimand”

   “a vein of gentle irony”

   “poked gentle fun at him”

   synonyms: soft

   mild

   moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
2. adjective

   having little impact
   “gentle rain”

   “a gentle breeze”

   synonyms: easy, soft

   light

   of little intensity or power or force
3. adjective

   having or showing a kindly or tender nature
   “the gentle touch of her hand”

   “her gentle manner was comforting”

   “a gentle sensitive nature”

   “gentle blue eyes”

   synonyms:

   kind

   having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
4. adjective

   quiet and soothing
   “a gentle voice”

   “a gentle nocturne”

   synonyms:

   soft

   (of sound) relatively low in volume
5. adjective

   easily handled or managed
   synonyms: docile

   tame, tamed

   brought from wildness into a domesticated state
6. verb

   cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
   synonyms: appease, assuage, conciliate, gruntle, lenify, mollify, pacify, placate

   type of:

   calm, calm down, lull, quiet, quieten, still, tranquilize, tranquillise, tranquillize

   make calm or still
7. verb

   stroke soothingly
   type of:

   pet

   stroke or caress gently
8. adjective

   belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
   “of gentle blood”

   synonyms: aristocratic, aristocratical, blue, blue-blooded, patrician

   noble

   of or belonging to or constituting the hereditary aristocracy especially as derived from feudal times
9. verb

   give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility
   synonyms: ennoble, entitle

   types:

   baronetise, baronetize

   confer baronetcy upon

   lord

   make a lord of someone

   dub, knight

   raise (someone) to knighthood

   type of:

   advance, elevate, kick upstairs, promote, raise, upgrade

   give a promotion to or assign to a higher position
10. adjective

    marked by moderate steepness
    “a gentle slope”

    synonyms: easy

    gradual

    (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt