Definition of GENTLE

gentle

Plural: gentles

Verb

Verb Forms: gentled, gentling, gentles

  • To tame or make mild and tractable.
  • cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
  • give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility
  • stroke soothingly
  • To become gentle.
  • To ennoble.
  • To break; to tame; to domesticate.
  • To soothe; to calm; to make gentle.

Adjective Satellite

  • soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
    • "a gentle reprimand"
    • "a vein of gentle irony"
    • "poked gentle fun at him"
  • having or showing a kindly or tender nature
    • "the gentle touch of her hand"
    • "her gentle manner was comforting"
    • "a gentle sensitive nature"
    • "gentle blue eyes"
  • quiet and soothing
    • "a gentle voice"
    • "a gentle nocturne"
  • belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
    • "of gentle blood"
  • easily handled or managed
    • "a gentle old horse, docile and obedient"
  • having little impact
    • "gentle rain"
    • "a gentle breeze"
  • marked by moderate steepness
    • "a gentle slope"

Adj

  • Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition.
  • Soft and mild rather than hard or severe.
  • Docile and easily managed.
  • Gradual rather than steep or sudden.
  • Polite and respectful rather than rude.
  • Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble.

Noun

  • A person of high birth.
  • A maggot used as bait by anglers.
  • A trained falcon, or falcon-gentil.

Adjective

  • Having a mild, kind, or tender character.

Examples

  • a gentle horse
  • He gave me a gentle reminder that we had to hurry up.
  • I felt something touch my shoulder; it was gentle and a little slimy.
  • It takes skill to GENTLE a chaotic tile rack into a high-scoring Scrabble word.
  • She made a GENTLE move with her tiles, setting up a powerful play for her next turn.
  • Stuart is a gentle man; he would never hurt you.
  • The walks in this area have a gentle incline.
  • We had a gentle swim in the lake.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English gentil (“courteous, noble”), from Old French gentil (“high-born, noble”), from Latin gentilis (“of the same family or clan”), from gens (“[Roman] clan”). Doublet of gentile, genteel, and jaunty.

Antonyms

rude

Scrabble Score: 7

gentle: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
gentle: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gentle: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

gentle: valid Words With Friends Word