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

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 gift
Noun
One of the gifts of being gay is the nonreproductive part. Jason Parham, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2025 Through the grace of God, everyone has specific gifts and talents. Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
In it, Nuur, the title character, is a sensitive and academically gifted 17-year-old boy growing up in Toronto’s Somali community in Dixon. Brent Lang, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025 This time, last year, Christmas, Hannah had gifted her an immersion blender. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gift 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gift
Noun
  • The effort hopes to raise at least $5 million in the coming months through donations and an auction of animation memorabilia via Sotheby’s.
    Terry Flores, Variety, 9 Feb. 2025
  • The group has offered food, donations and faith services at different locations across Sacramento for about 15 years, said founder Kathryn Baldwin.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 9 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The luxury hotel anthology series takes place in Thailand this season, with a murderer’s row of acting talent at the ready.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Keep all of the best goodies off limits, on the other hand, and the Leafs will be limited to acquiring the same kind of marginal talent — third- and fourth-liners, third-pairing defencemen — as last spring.
    Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • During the visit, the Dalai Lama blessed a 3-foot-tall Bodhi tree for the campus.
    Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Giants fans are allowed to forget for the moment that their team is also in the same division as the Commanders and Jayden Daniels, a gifted rookie quarterback who is going to be a star for the next decade and, if blessed with good health, for much longer than that.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • At present, the line of 500 possible asteroid positions (pictured below) on Dec. 22, 2032, measures 1.2 million miles long.
    Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Commenters were quick to praise the gift, with many noting that hiring musicians as presents could be a beautiful way to support artists.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • White also has a knack for assembling fantastic casts, and he’s done it again here, with Posey stealing scenes and making memes as proudly old-fashioned matriarch Victoria, who pairs an airy superiority with a taste for prescription pills.
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 13 Feb. 2025
  • Ken had a knack for bringing joy and laughter to any gathering.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Polsky previously endowed the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and sits on the university’s board.
    Karina Atkins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
  • Roughly the size of Western Europe, the war-riven country is endowed with vast mineral wealth, including the world’s largest reserves of cobalt and coltan – both critical to the production of electronics.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN, 12 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • As New York Fashion Week had just kicked into full swing Naylor was anticipating attending Sergio Hudson’s presentation.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 9 Feb. 2025
  • With a slideshow presentation, the school’s Principal Talib ul Hikmah Karriem explained the Nation of Islam’s history and theology.
    Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • New Yorkers with ambition and aptitude come together to complete these trainings in diverse cohorts led by expert instructors.
    Dynishal Gross, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Whatever your interests and aptitude, chances are there is a need for your contribution in the workplace of today, and tomorrow.
    Aliza Knox, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near gift

Cite this Entry

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

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