take kindly to
idiomatic phrase
: to feel or show an inclination or willingness to accept or approve of (something or someone)
She congratulated herself still more on observing in the course of days that Mr Verloc seemed to be taking kindly to Stevie's companionship.—
Joseph Conrad
—usually used in negative constructionsJoseph ConradHe doesn't take kindly to criticism. [=he doesn't like to be criticized]
But Terry Gilliam has never been a company man. … He has never taken kindly to the controls of studio heads and accountants …—Kathi Maio
Kathi Maio… Grandfather was a strict Loyalist. He would not take kindly to anyone who criticized the king!—Valerie Trip
Valerie TripExamples of take kindly to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With Claire under suspicion of espionage, she was forced to marry Lord John Grey (David Berry) for protection — a development the very much alive Jamie did not take kindly to upon his return, having taken a different passage home.
—Amy Wilkinson, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
But the government won’t take kindly to innocent mistakes, either.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Visible only to Hana at first, in convex reflective surfaces like a kettle or the back of a spoon, Bertha does not take kindly to Hana’s attempts to kick the pill habit and start policing her food intake the old-fashioned way.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Amanda did not take kindly to my making fun of her house.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take kindly to
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Amy Wilkinson, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
But the government won’t take kindly to innocent mistakes, either.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Visible only to Hana at first, in convex reflective surfaces like a kettle or the back of a spoon, Bertha does not take kindly to Hana’s attempts to kick the pill habit and start policing her food intake the old-fashioned way.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Amanda did not take kindly to my making fun of her house.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take kindly to
Cite this Entry
“Take kindly to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20kindly%20to. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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