How to Use benevolent in a Sentence

benevolent

adjective
  • He belonged to several benevolent societies and charitable organizations.
  • The wild plants that were up for harvest were a lot less benevolent, too.
    — Jacqueline Goldblatt, PC Magazine, 13 June 2026
  • Out here, in nature and benevolent hands, guns seem to me more sporty than evil.
    — Rachel Levin, Bon Appétit, 19 Sep. 2022
  • Kish asked the benevolent Boston dad to pack his knives and go.
    — Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2024
  • Instead the team thinks the best fit is the more benevolent scenario.
    — National Geographic, 4 Apr. 2016
  • These days, the set list is mostly old songs, and the vibe is largely benevolent.
    — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022
  • As Ely puts it in his author’s note, medicine must be more than benevolent.
    — Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2021
  • But there are forms of AI that ought to be more benevolent than that, right?
    — Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 28 Aug. 2024
  • The overflow doctor had benevolent eyes and doughy cheeks, like fresh loaves of bread.
    — Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
  • Can the drone shot be benevolent, or, at the very least, objective?
    — Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2023
  • But statement that seems so benevolent can be anything but.
    — Kathy and Ross Petrass, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Not like a drunk way but like a benevolent alien who couldn’t believe that this planet had donuts.
    — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
  • Their goal is to become the world’s favorite benevolent brand.
    — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes, 24 June 2022
  • The marshals, too, were a benevolent presence in their lives.
    — Emily Langer, Washington Post, 13 July 2024
  • Flavor chooses to dance for his money and not do benevolent work like this.
    — Ellen McGirt, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2020
  • Flavor chooses to dance for his money and not do benevolent work like this.
    — Neil Shah, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2020
  • Those who take them should get the setting right—a safe place, with benevolent people and a sober friend around.
    — The Economist, 7 June 2019
  • She was taught to read and write by the benevolent mistress whose family owned her.
    — Sam Roberts, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023
  • The term benevolent great power is an oxymoron.
    — Mishal Husain, Bloomberg, 15 May 2026
  • If that were true, benevolent despotism would be the best form of government.
    — Susan Neiman, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
  • Grey-haired Tom presided over the place in a silent, benevolent manner.
    — Angela Rocco Decarlo, WSJ, 17 Mar. 2022
  • Today, the state’s modern army of scribes presents Xi as just this type of benevolent ruler.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2022
  • The baby turns out to be a gentle giant — a benevolent ruler loved by his people.
    — Alex Suskind, EW.com, 19 July 2019
  • The benevolent warden built them a stilt home with a lovely water view, plus a web of netting to swing on.
    — Vincent Crampton, OrlandoSentinel.com, 6 May 2018
  • Among the many myths and claims, there is the theory of a benevolent Mothman.
    — Emma Platoff, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Nov. 2022
  • The primary seller gets to look benevolent, having kept prices low for fans.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The Break is being spread by the four Tantas, once benevolent rulers who’ve gone mad from it.
    — George Yang, Variety, 23 Jan. 2023
  • He’s gone from the symbol of all things sane and benevolent to a violent dictator in the course of a month.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
  • But the once-benevolent king appears to have succumbed to avarice and begun meddling with the book of creation.
    — Edwin Evans-Thirlwell, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023
  • People could be drawn to your benevolent energy.
    — Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'benevolent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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