GENEROUS Synonyms: 132 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'generous' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of generous are bountiful , liberal , and munificent . While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift. // a generous offer of help

Q: Where would 'bountiful' be a reasonable alternative to 'generous'?

The synonyms bountiful and generous are sometimes interchangeable, but bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing. // children spoiled by bountiful presents

Q: When might 'liberal' be a better fit than 'generous'?

In some situations, the words liberal and generous are roughly equivalent. However, liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given. // a teacher liberal with her praise

Q: When is 'munificent' a more appropriate choice than 'generous'?

The words munificent and generous can be used in similar contexts, but munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes. // a munificent foundation grant

generous

adjective

ˈje-nə-rəs

Definition of generous next

as in charitable

giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation a civic leader who is very generous with his money and time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in plentiful

being more than enough without being excessive mashed potatoes with a generous serving of butter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective generous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of generous are bountiful, liberal, and munificent. While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

Where would bountiful be a reasonable alternative to generous?

The synonyms bountiful and generous are sometimes interchangeable, but bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

When might liberal be a better fit than generous?

In some situations, the words liberal and generous are roughly equivalent. However, liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

When is munificent a more appropriate choice than generous?

The words munificent and generous can be used in similar contexts, but munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

Examples of generous in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Recent Examples on the Web Don’t waste time; be direct and generous with your time and expertise, and your dream will become your reality. —

Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 27 Oct. 2024 One in particular caught my eye, thanks to its stainless steel construction and generous weight capacity. —

Christina Shepherd McGuire, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2024 Kate O'Flaherty Apple’s $1 Million Bug Bounty Apple’s bug bounty for PCC is pretty generous. —

Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 The generous shelter and services that the mayors of these cities offered asylum seekers proved expensive, and the federal government proffered little help, causing tensions with the White House. —

Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for generous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for generous

Adjective

In the meantime, the sheer number of new immigrants arriving in Lockland is taxing charitable and public services, and alarming village leaders.

Randy Tucker, The Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2024
No stranger to charitable causes in his native Asheville, North Carolina, with his annual Christmas Jam concert, Warren Haynes will once again lend a musical hand to help out his hometown following the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene last month.

Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2024

Definition of charitable

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“Generous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/generous. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

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Last Updated: 2 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of generous

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Examples of generous in a Sentence

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