beneficent
adjective
be·nef·i·cent bə-ˈne-fə-sənt 
1
: doing or producing good
a beneficent policy
especially : performing acts of kindness and charity
a beneficent leader
2
: beneficial
beneficent bacteria
beneficently adverb
Synonyms
- benevolent
- benignant
- compassionate
- good-hearted
- humane
- kind
- kindhearted
- kindly
- softhearted
- sympathetic
- tender
- tenderhearted
- warmhearted
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a humane and beneficent policy a beneficent couple who are regular volunteers at a homeless shelter
Recent Examples on the Web Visitors to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, in the early 1900s could pay a quarter to see incredibly tiny premature infants on display in some of the earliest incubators in a beneficent sideshow attraction. 
Katherine Harmon Courage, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022 With regulatory and governmental eyes continuing to zero in on the practice, the decision to eschew lootboxes becomes more prudent than beneficent, at least for a certain type of game. Aaron Zimmerman, Ars Technica, 2 Sep. 2022 To avoid scrutiny and having the face the court of public opinion, many organizations and institutions took pre-emptive measures that on the surface seemed beneficent. Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 1 May 2022 This inevitably results in conflict with his cohorts, who don’t appreciate such beneficent actions as Wolf gently coaxing a frightened kitty down from a tree. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Apr. 2022 There was a question about it every now and again, but Frank will be remembered as a beneficent champion of his native state, one who worked hard for the greater good. oregonlive, 13 Mar. 2022 Carmakers have noted their moves toward electrification, their commitments to sustainability during the manufacturing process, and their general insistence on beneficent environmental stewardship. Brett Berk, Outside Online, 19 Aug. 2021 Today’s Tiny Tims can’t rely on beneficent poltergeists to scare plutocrats straight. Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2021 Moral perversion exists side by side in Shakespeare’s tragedy with beneficent strength. Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2021 See More
Katherine Harmon Courage, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022 With regulatory and governmental eyes continuing to zero in on the practice, the decision to eschew lootboxes becomes more prudent than beneficent, at least for a certain type of game. Aaron Zimmerman, Ars Technica, 2 Sep. 2022 To avoid scrutiny and having the face the court of public opinion, many organizations and institutions took pre-emptive measures that on the surface seemed beneficent. Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 1 May 2022 This inevitably results in conflict with his cohorts, who don’t appreciate such beneficent actions as Wolf gently coaxing a frightened kitty down from a tree. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Apr. 2022 There was a question about it every now and again, but Frank will be remembered as a beneficent champion of his native state, one who worked hard for the greater good. oregonlive, 13 Mar. 2022 Carmakers have noted their moves toward electrification, their commitments to sustainability during the manufacturing process, and their general insistence on beneficent environmental stewardship. Brett Berk, Outside Online, 19 Aug. 2021 Today’s Tiny Tims can’t rely on beneficent poltergeists to scare plutocrats straight. Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2021 Moral perversion exists side by side in Shakespeare’s tragedy with beneficent strength. Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
back-formation from beneficence
First Known Use
circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1
beneficent
adjective
1
as in benevolent
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others a beneficent couple who are regular volunteers at a homeless shelter Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- benevolent
- compassionate
- kind
- humane
- sympathetic
- gentle
- benignant
- gracious
- thoughtful
- kindly
- merciful
- nice
- friendly
- kindhearted
- generous
- good
- warmhearted
- sweet
- tender
- tenderhearted
- pleasant
- good-hearted
- humanitarian
- attentive
- benign
- softhearted
- patient
- warm
- solicitous
- considerate
- charitable
- mild
- noble
- affable
- pitying
- genial
- forbearing
- munificent
- magnanimous
- soft
- companionable
- neighborly
- philanthropic
- clement
- amicable
- liberal
- lenient
- cordial
- unselfish
- altruistic
- understanding
- forgiving
- selfless
- tolerant
- comradely
- good-natured
- good-tempered
- brotherly
- unsparing
- philanthropical
- openhearted
- freehanded
- greathearted
- anticruelty
- cruelty-free
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cruel
- barbarous
- vicious
- savage
- unkind
- inhuman
- sadistic
- callous
- brutal
- heartless
- fiendish
- ruthless
- pitiless
- unsympathetic
- bestial
- truculent
- barbaric
- unfeeling
- insensate
- brute
- inhumane
- atrocious
- merciless
- brutish
- unkindly
- wanton
- thoughtless
- unthinking
- uncaring
- insensitive
- severe
- uncompassionate
- malevolent
- malignant
- inconsiderate
- harsh
- grim
- stern
- hard-hearted
- malicious
- tough
- malign
- cold-blooded
- hateful
- spiteful
- mean
- unsentimental
- virulent
- nasty
- ironhearted
- stonyhearted
- uncharitable
- heavy-handed
- hard-boiled
- antihumanitarian
2
as in charitable
having or showing a concern for the welfare of others a beneficent effort to help out the needy during the holidays Synonyms & Similar Words
- charitable
- philanthropic
- benevolent
- humanitarian
- philanthropical
- generous
- good
- altruistic
- eleemosynary
- handsome
- do-good
- munificent
- magnanimous
- selfless
- bounteous
- bountiful
- unselfish
- compassionate
- liberal
- humane
- kind
- kindhearted
- free
- openhanded
- openhearted
- bighearted
- unsparing
- self-sacrificing
- freehanded
- greathearted
- social-minded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- selfish
- pitiless
- parsimonious
- stingy
- miserly
- cheap
- self-concerned
- tightfisted
- unfeeling
- tight
- niggardly
- self-centered
- self-seeking
- closefisted
- self-indulgent
- hard-hearted
- self-obsessed
3
as in beneficial
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being cultural activities have a beneficent effect on a community that can't be measured in dollars and cents Synonyms & Similar Words
- beneficial
- favorable
- helpful
- good
- profitable
- friendly
- salutary
- benignant
- satisfying
- advantageous
- desirable
- kindly
- benefic
- propitious
- lucrative
- promising
- auspicious
- healthful
- rewarding
- supportive
- gratifying
- wholesome
- healthy
- salubrious
- gainful
- constructive
- remunerative
- advisable
- ameliorative
- bettering
- amelioratory
- salutiferous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unfavorable
- bad
- unfriendly
- disadvantageous
- harmful
- unprofitable
- injurious
- deleterious
- unhelpful
- damaging
- insalubrious
- brewsters
- brey
- long tackle
- long time no see
- Long Tom
- long ton
- long tongue
- long underwear
- long vacation
- long view
- long weekend
- long whist
- Long Xuyen
- long yearling
- long-ago
- long-and-short work
- long-and-short-haul clause
- long-billed corella
- long-billed curlew
- long-billed dowitcher
- long-billed marsh wren
- long-chain
- long-clawed prawn
- long-crested jay
- long-cycle