grace 1 of 2

1
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance in Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables, Jean Valjean's decision to go to jail for the man mistaken for him is a grace that goes beyond thanks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth as if taste were not enough, red wine has the added grace of being healthy for the heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grace

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun grace differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of grace are charity, clemency, leniency, and mercy. While all these words mean "a disposition to show kindness or compassion," grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions.

by the grace of God

When is charity a more appropriate choice than grace?

In some situations, the words charity and grace are roughly equivalent. However, charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others.

show a little charity for the less fortunate

When is it sensible to use clemency instead of grace?

While in some cases nearly identical to grace, clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing.

the judge refused to show clemency

In what contexts can leniency take the place of grace?

While the synonyms leniency and grace are close in meaning, leniency implies lack of severity in punishing.

criticized the courts for excessive leniency

When might mercy be a better fit than grace?

The words mercy and grace can be used in similar contexts, but mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

threw himself on the mercy of the court

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grace
Noun
Finally, a stop at Flanigan’s Flanigan’s, the South Florida staple known for its giant green cups and rib rolls, finally had the Stanley Cup grace its presence when longtime equipment manager Scott Tinkler took the Cup to the franchise’s Hallandale location as part of his Cup day. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 July 2025 Give yourself the grace to pause, rethink, and revise. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 27 July 2025
Verb
Wallpaper has been gracing our walls since the 16th century, and even in 2025, its appeal shows no signs of fading. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2025 But the strikeout-prone Rangers slugger never graced an All-Star roster. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for grace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grace
Noun
  • His 90 years are saturated with kindness, love and compassion… driven by a fearless, diamond-like wisdom that engages a deeply divided world.
    Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 30 July 2025
  • Cole has known Hussein for about six years and has seen how Hussein's kindness, character and compassion has inspired countless people at the school.
    Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • This is the shift from being a coder to a code craftsperson—focusing on intentionality, experience, elegance and building systems that last.
    Deepa Shekhar, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • The Renaissance ideal suggests a fine and cultured society, with its crowds of gay ladies and gentlemen devoted to the pleasures and elegances of life—which excites my admiration, but not my sympathies.
    Henry Wiencek July 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • Such facilities have flocked to the state for its competitive operating costs, low natural disaster risk and strong fiber infrastructure, among other advantages.
    Sasha Hupka, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
  • For one, coordinated destruction of data centers would require simultaneous strikes across dozens of countries, any one of which could refuse and gain massive strategic advantage.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Harris, along with other guests at the wedding bash, were seen sitting at a long banquet table adorned with red roses.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 28 July 2025
  • An Instagram post showed her toes adorned with her own rings—made for fingers.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 July 2025
Noun
  • Jeff Zients’ role in authorizing this mechanical mercy raises serious ethical concerns.
    Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 2025
  • In commending the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, the Holy Father prays for the consolation of those who grieve and for the recovery of the injured.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • More admired than beloved, the show has extended an open challenge to theater artists drawn to the sophisticated majesty of Brown’s Tony-winning score but daunted by the expansive scope of Uhry’s Tony-winning book.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
  • While some of these women have officially earned their crowns in the Disney princess canon, other heroines like Elsa from Frozen (2013) and Mirabel from Encanto (2021) have essentially become honorary majesties.
    EW.com, EW.com, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Qureshi draws a distinction between having a purpose and having a goal.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 July 2025
  • The center, just off the 5 freeway on Culver Drive, now has the unique distinction of offering two Japanese grocery stores: Mitsuwa and Tokyo Central.
    Samantha Gowen, Oc Register, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • And once complete, the space will be decorated with murals and other installations by local artists.
    Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • Dozens of house plants decorate the shelves and window sills, absorbing the light from windows that run from the tops of bookshelves to the ceiling.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 29 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grace. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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