benevolent
gb/bənˈɛvələnt/ us/bənˈɛvələnt/
B2
Inglés
~ 6900
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
formal
B2
property
1
kind and wanting to help others
Kind and wanting to help other people or do good things for them.
Patrón de uso:
benevolent (to/toward [someone])
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "benevolent" in very casual speech where "kind" or "nice" is more natural. "Benevolent" is correct, but it sounds more formal and is more common in writing than in everyday conversation. Learners also sometimes confuse "benevolent" with "malevolent"; remember that the "ben-" in "benevolent" is related to "benefit" (good), while "mal-" in "malevolent" is related to "malfunction" or "malnutrition" (bad).
Sinónimos
kind (More common and less formal; describes a warm, friendly nature.)
|
kind-hearted (Focuses slightly more on feeling soft or warm inside than on doing good.)
|
well-meaning (Stresses good intentions, but does not always suggest the action is effective.)
Antónimos
malevolent (Describes someone who wants to hurt or do bad things to others.)
|
cruel (Focuses on enjoying or not caring about causing pain.)
Colocaciones
a benevolent person
|a benevolent smile
|benevolent attitude
|benevolent toward others
|benevolent gesture
|a genuinely benevolent man
Temas
character
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- She was known as a benevolent neighbor who always checked on elderly residents in the building.
- His benevolent nature made him popular with both staff and students.
- The doctor gave her a benevolent smile to calm her before the operation.
- People saw him as a benevolent figure who tried to make the town a better place.
- Underneath his strict manner, he was surprisingly benevolent and patient with children.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Our teacher is very benevolent and helps us after class.
- The old man gave the children a benevolent smile.
- Her benevolent boss lets her go home early when she is sick.
- He seems cold, but he is actually a very benevolent person.
- Many people loved her because of her benevolent character.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
charitable or helping in purpose
Having the goal of helping people, especially as a group, program, or action that gives money or support.
Patrón de uso:
benevolent [organization/action/fund]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "benevolent" instead of "non-profit" or "charity" to name an organization (e.g., saying "a benevolent" instead of "a charity" or "a benevolent organization"). "Benevolent" is an adjective and usually needs a noun after it (e.g., "benevolent group", "benevolent fund").
Sinónimos
charitable (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and can sound less formal in some contexts.)
|
humanitarian (Emphasizes helping people in need or protecting human welfare, often internationally.)
Antónimos
exploitative (Describes organizations or actions that take advantage of people instead of helping them.)
|
self-serving (Describes actions or groups that mainly help themselves, not others.)
Colocaciones
benevolent organization
|benevolent fund
|benevolent society
|benevolent association
|benevolent institution
|benevolent scheme
Temas
charity
|society
|work
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Ejemplos
- The company created a benevolent fund to support employees facing medical emergencies.
- She volunteers at a benevolent society that provides free meals to homeless families.
- Several benevolent organizations worked together to rebuild the village after the flood.
- His research is supported by a benevolent foundation that funds medical studies.
- The union negotiated a benevolent scheme to help retired workers pay their rent.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He gave money to a benevolent organization that helps sick children.
- Our school has a benevolent fund for students who cannot buy books.
- The benevolent society gives food to poor families every week.
- Many benevolent groups came to help after the earthquake.
- She started a benevolent project to give clean water to villages.
adjective
formal
C1
property
3
kind and not harmful in power
Having a lot of power but using it in a kind way that does not hurt people.
Patrón de uso:
benevolent [ruler/god/force]
Error frecuente:
Learners may think "benevolent dictator" is always positive. In modern discussion, it is often used in a critical or doubtful way, suggesting that having a kind dictator is risky or unrealistic, even if the word "benevolent" itself is positive.
Sinónimos
benign (Suggests gentle and not harmful; often used for conditions, climates, or authority that is mild.)
|
paternalistic (Describes power used with a 'parent-like' attitude; can sound more critical than "benevolent".)
Antónimos
tyrannical (Describes rulers or systems that use power in a cruel, unfair way.)
|
oppressive (Describes power that keeps people down and limits their freedom or well-being.)
Colocaciones
benevolent dictator
|benevolent ruler
|benevolent king
|benevolent leader
|benevolent god
|benevolent universe
Temas
politics
|religion
|philosophy
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Citizens saw the monarch as a benevolent ruler who genuinely cared for their welfare.
- The story imagines a benevolent dictator who uses absolute power to create a fairer society.
- In many traditions, God is described as a benevolent force guiding human lives.
- They believed the universe to be fundamentally benevolent rather than cold and uncaring.
- The manager acted as a kind of benevolent patriarch, making decisions for everyone's benefit.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The people trusted him as a benevolent leader.
- Some people think of God as a benevolent power in the world.
- In the book, there is a benevolent king who helps the poor.
- He ruled like a benevolent father and tried to protect his people.
- They saw nature as a benevolent force, not as an enemy.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
benevolent
AFI
GB/bənˈɛvələnt/
US/bənˈɛvələnt/
Sílabas y acento
be - ne - vol - ent (4 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ne)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: benevolent
Familia de palabras
Core family
benevolence
noun C1
benevolently
adverb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
malevolent
adjective
malevolence
noun
Expresiones
benevolent fund
1/bənˈɛvələnt fˈʌnd/
fixed phrase
formal
money set aside to help people
Money that is saved or collected to give to people who have problems, such as illness or loss of work.
Ejemplos
- The company set up a benevolent fund to assist employees facing unexpected medical bills.
- Donations to the benevolent fund are used to support retired workers with low incomes.
benevolent society
1/bənˈɛvələnt səsˈaɪəti/
fixed phrase
formal
organization that gives help or money
A group or club that is made to give help or money to people who need it.
Ejemplos
- She volunteers twice a week at a local benevolent society that runs a food bank.
- In the nineteenth century, many cities had benevolent societies to support new immigrants.
benevolent dictator
1/bənˈɛvələnt dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
kind but autocratic ruler
A ruler who has complete power but uses it in a kind way to help people, not to hurt them.
Ejemplos
- Some people argue that a benevolent dictator could make decisions faster than a democracy.
- The founder ran the company like a benevolent dictator, making all the choices but paying workers very well.
- The novel explores whether a benevolent dictator can stay benevolent as power grows.
benevolent dictator
2/bənˈɛvələnt dɪktˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
apparently kind, helpful dictator
A leader who has complete power like a dictator but is seen as kind and trying to help the people.
Ejemplos
- Some supporters described the ruler as a benevolent dictator who modernized the country.
- In tech communities, a project may have a so-called benevolent dictator who makes final decisions.
- The idea of a benevolent dictator is attractive to some but dangerous if that power is abused.