gentle
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- sweet-tempered, compassionate, humane, kindly, meek, mild, placid, tender
- moderate, light, mild, muted, slight, soft, soothing
- gradual, easy, imperceptible, light, mild, moderate, slight, slow
- tame, biddable, broken, docile, manageable, placid, tractable

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Antonyms: harsh, stern
Contrasted words: coarse, harsh, rough, exquisite, fierce, intense, savage, vehement, violent, forceful, forcible, powerful, belligerent, cantankerous, contentious, ill-natured, petty, quarrelsome, aggressive, demanding, overbearing
Related Words: delicate, mellow, tender, hushed, low, soothing, calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil, kind, pleasant, pleasing, agreeable, benign, mild, compassionate, kindly, softhearted, sympathetic, warmhearted

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

gen‧tle S3 W3 /ˈdʒentl/ adjective
[Word Family: noun: gentleness; adverb: gently; adjective: gentle]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: French; Origin: gentil, from Latin gentilis 'of a family, of the same family', from gens; ⇒ gentile]

1. kind and careful in the way you behave or do things, so that you do not hurt or damage anyone or anything Antonym : rough:
Arthur was a very gentle, caring person.
gentle voice/smile/touch
‘Where does it hurt?’ she asked in a gentle voice.
gentle with
Be gentle with the baby.

2. not extreme, strong, or violent
gentle exercise/walk/stroll etc
a program of regular gentle exercise
the gentle pressure of Jill’s hand
After a little gentle persuasion, she agreed to go back to her family.
Melt the butter over a gentle heat (=low heat).

3. a gentle wind or rain is soft and light:
a gentle breeze

4. a gentle hill or slope is not steep or sharp:
the gentle slopes of Mt Pelée
—gentleness noun [uncountable]
⇒ gently

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

gentle
adj.
VERBS appear, be, look, seem, sound | become
ADV. extremely, very | almost | fairly, quite | surprisingly, unusually | deceptively His mouth looked deceptively gentle.
PREP. on The new treatments are gentle on your hair.
with She was very gentle with the children.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

gentle
adjective
DUBIOUS: My father was a very gentle man, always helping people.
GOOD: My father was a very kind man, always helping people.

Usage Note:
gentle = (1) used to describe someone who never shows anger or impatience in what they say or do: 'His brother was always ready for a fight, but Tim was quiet and gentle.'
(2) not loud, forceful or rough: 'He spoke to the child in a quiet, gentle voice so as not to frighten her.' 'She found the doctor's gentle manner very reassuring.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲