gift 1 of 2

gift

2 of 2

verb

as in to bless
to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute gifted with an uncanny ability to persuade people to do things they ordinarily wouldn't

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun gift differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gift are aptitude, bent, faculty, genius, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When can aptitude be used instead of gift?

The words aptitude and gift can be used in similar contexts, but aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

How do bent and aptitude relate to one another, in the sense of gift?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

Where would faculty be a reasonable alternative to gift?

In some situations, the words faculty and gift are roughly equivalent. However, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

When could genius be used to replace gift?

The meanings of genius and gift largely overlap; however, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When would knack be a good substitute for gift?

Although the words knack and gift have much in common, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

In what contexts can talent take the place of gift?

The synonyms talent and gift are sometimes interchangeable, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

Examples of gift in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Citi cardmembers may, if available, purchase tickets and VIP packages for the event, which include access to a special viewing area, a gift bag, and more. Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024 Deliciously Vintage got national media attention when Kanye West, Strong’s friend and another Chicago State alum, stopped in to pick up a gift for his then girlfriend, the model Amber Rose. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
Verb
The guns used in both massacres were Christmas presents, gifted to the teens by their parents. Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 7 Sep. 2024 The move marks a continuation and arguable expansion of the movement begun in the Michigan case: an effort by law enforcement to hold parents responsible for gifting their child with a gun, especially those kids who have been experiencing violent urges and making online threats. Aja Romano, Vox, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gift 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gift.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near gift

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

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