grace 1 of 2

1
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance in Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables, Jean Valjean's decision to go to jail for the man mistaken for him is a grace that goes beyond thanks

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2
3
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth as if taste were not enough, red wine has the added grace of being healthy for the heart

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grace

2 of 2

verb

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How does the noun grace differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of grace are charity, clemency, leniency, and mercy. While all these words mean "a disposition to show kindness or compassion," grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions.

by the grace of God

When is charity a more appropriate choice than grace?

In some situations, the words charity and grace are roughly equivalent. However, charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others.

show a little charity for the less fortunate

When is it sensible to use clemency instead of grace?

While in some cases nearly identical to grace, clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing.

the judge refused to show clemency

In what contexts can leniency take the place of grace?

While the synonyms leniency and grace are close in meaning, leniency implies lack of severity in punishing.

criticized the courts for excessive leniency

When might mercy be a better fit than grace?

The words mercy and grace can be used in similar contexts, but mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

threw himself on the mercy of the court

Examples of grace in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In the span of a few short months, Disney — the Hollywood studio designed more than any other to subsist on franchises — once again is dominating its rivals after losing its No. 1 standing to Universal last year in a stunning fall from grace. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2024 But after 23 years, Kulle had earned some compassion, some grace. Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 11 Sep. 2024
Verb
Be sure to sit on the patio to enjoy the soothing sounds of an in-ground water fountain display and the majestic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are graced by colorful sunsets in the evening. Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024 Paired here with Adria Arjona, Powell is graced with a costar more than capable of curating a fizzy, classic romance, reminding one of the halcyon days of Hepburn and Tracy or Bogart and Bacall. EW.com, 14 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grace 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grace.' 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

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

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