beneficent
adjective
be·nef·i·cent
bə-ˈne-fə-sənt 
1
: doing or producing good
a beneficent policy
especially
: performing acts of kindness and charity
a beneficent leader
2
: beneficial
beneficent bacteria
beneficently
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of beneficent in a Sentence
a humane and beneficent policy
a beneficent couple who are regular volunteers at a homeless shelter
Recent Examples on the Web
Have yourself a most joyous Fastnacht, and all hail the beneficent Mothman.
—
Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 27 Apr. 2024
The Virgin looks warily to her right, as if to protect the child seated on her lap, who is turned to the left and raises one hand in beneficent blessing.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024
Both center-left and center-right in the West coalesce around calls for more porous borders, freer trade, and open minds, calling them either inevitable or beneficent, or more often both at once.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Starting a program for veterans was a way to pay homage to his family’s service, to honor a good friend who was killed in the Iraq War, and to establish his business as a beneficent force in the community.
—David Conrads, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beneficent 
Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 27 Apr. 2024
The Virgin looks warily to her right, as if to protect the child seated on her lap, who is turned to the left and raises one hand in beneficent blessing.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024
Both center-left and center-right in the West coalesce around calls for more porous borders, freer trade, and open minds, calling them either inevitable or beneficent, or more often both at once.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Starting a program for veterans was a way to pay homage to his family’s service, to honor a good friend who was killed in the Iraq War, and to establish his business as a beneficent force in the community.
—David Conrads, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beneficent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beneficent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to beneficent
Dictionary Entries Near beneficent
Cite this Entry
“Beneficent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beneficent. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beneficent
adjective
be·nef·i·cent
bə-ˈnef-ə-sənt
: doing or producing good
especially
: performing acts of kindness or charity
beneficently
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share