take kindly to
idiomatic phrase
: to feel or show an inclination or willingness to accept or approve of (something or someone)
She congratulated herself still more on observing in the course of days that Mr Verloc seemed to be taking kindly to Stevie's companionship.—
Joseph Conrad
—usually used in negative constructionsJoseph ConradHe doesn't take kindly to criticism. [=he doesn't like to be criticized]
But Terry Gilliam has never been a company man. … He has never taken kindly to the controls of studio heads and accountants …—Kathi Maio
Kathi Maio… Grandfather was a strict Loyalist. He would not take kindly to anyone who criticized the king!—Valerie Trip
Valerie TripExamples of take kindly to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, the six million original inhabitants of Taiwan, most of whom had never been to China, did not take kindly to being subjected to Chiang’s harsh military junta.
—Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024
Mendoza continues to emphasize maintaining a positive outlook, a narrative the fans are not taking kindly to.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 May 2024
For example, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu did not take kindly to the idea of tolling drivers entering Massachusetts at the state border, the Boston Herald reported.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2024
China is a growing space power and probably would not take kindly to a large chunk of its satellite fleet being disabled.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 12 Apr. 2022
In fact, the editor did not take kindly to outside influence on editorial operations, and the CIA met only with the business side of the paper.
—Jack Devine, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2014
Unsurprisingly, many creators didn’t take kindly to seeing the symbols of their livelihood explode like party favors and be reduced to a single consumer product.
—Allison Johnson, The Verge, 29 May 2024
Scheana later mentions her emotional conversation with Sandoval to Ariana and Katie Maloney, who, shockingly, don’t take kindly to it.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2024
When George and Harden did that, Lue didn’t take kindly to their remarks.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024
Mendoza continues to emphasize maintaining a positive outlook, a narrative the fans are not taking kindly to.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 May 2024
For example, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu did not take kindly to the idea of tolling drivers entering Massachusetts at the state border, the Boston Herald reported.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2024
China is a growing space power and probably would not take kindly to a large chunk of its satellite fleet being disabled.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 12 Apr. 2022
In fact, the editor did not take kindly to outside influence on editorial operations, and the CIA met only with the business side of the paper.
—Jack Devine, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2014
Unsurprisingly, many creators didn’t take kindly to seeing the symbols of their livelihood explode like party favors and be reduced to a single consumer product.
—Allison Johnson, The Verge, 29 May 2024
Scheana later mentions her emotional conversation with Sandoval to Ariana and Katie Maloney, who, shockingly, don’t take kindly to it.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2024
When George and Harden did that, Lue didn’t take kindly to their remarks.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take kindly to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Take kindly to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20kindly%20to. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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