1
as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
around campus he's known as a real character, but one whose eccentricities are entirely benign
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
basking under a benign sun on a day in early spring
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of benign
Some of the entries in the collection, which was released by a House committee on Monday, are strictly well wishes, congratulations and benign birthday messages.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Because Americans often changed locations, moving around the country, it was once considered a benign conversation opener.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Their experiments showed that certain combinations – like a benign image paired with a harmful question – could slip past the model’s safety filters.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Bleeding after running is not to be considered normal or benign and someone experiencing it should seek medical attention.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benign
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Because Americans often changed locations, moving around the country, it was once considered a benign conversation opener.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Their experiments showed that certain combinations – like a benign image paired with a harmful question – could slip past the model’s safety filters.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Bleeding after running is not to be considered normal or benign and someone experiencing it should seek medical attention.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benign
Adjective
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Ultimately harmless, this was the piece of the bomb that would ignite the charge in the main body of the projectile.—
Michael Jerome Plunkett
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
-
This compulsion to celebrate himself in general, and to celebrate such a juvenile, harmless gesture in particular, should be yet another reason to lose all patience with Lee Raybon.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Make sure to choose the cool water setting and a low-spin or gentle wash cycle, and add in gentle laundry detergent according to the load size on your machine.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
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More serious collectors may prefer waddling to the local Cars & Coffee with an earlier VW, recalling a kinder, gentler, and far slower-paced time than our present age.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Synthetic fabrics like microfiber, nylon, polyester, acrylic, and performance fabrics are all safe for at-home treatment.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This hair tool bag from Famoplay keeps straighteners, curling irons, and blowout brushes safe, organized, and away from the rest of your suitcase’s contents.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
They’re placed on or next to the body and struck with a mallet to release a calming vibration and mellifluous tone that eases muscles, sparking an immediately soothing effect on the nervous system and improving synaptic responses in the brain.—
Terry Elward,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Whatever the manifestation—hair-tucking, shorts-pulling, ball-bouncing, bobbing, pocket-checking, or something else entirely—the familiarity of these motions can have a soothing effect, calming the player’s nerves before a big shot.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Traditional shades of red and green remain present, but they’re joined by bubble gum pink and soft blue for a more eclectic palette.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Tejasvi designed it with large-font type to make text easier to see and read, and a soft, blue theme intended to be soothing to people who may come to the site fresh from a scam and be fearful or frazzled.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The casualties included six people who were in serious condition and three who were in mild condition, the MDA said.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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Spring brings wildflowers and mild weather, while summer entails long days best spent out on the water or hiking trails.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Get the recipe > The mellow sweetness of summer corn and lobster meat harmonize beautifully in this ultimate summer soup.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
4 Sep. 2025
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Casting the sweet-faced and unflappably mellow Dano — Eli Sunday his Vadim Baranov is not — as Putin’s kingmaker also assures that Assayas isn’t keen on high drama, with conversations in conference rooms plotting totalitarian takeover rarely rising above library-voice level.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benign. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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