gentles 1 of 2

plural of gentle
as in nobles
a man or woman of high birth or social position the archbishop treated both the gentles and the commoners with respect and kindness

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gentles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gentle
1
2
3
as in softens
to lessen the shock of adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentles
Noun
  • The country’s nobles eventually surrendered in exchange for being allowed to keep their lands (some of them may have done so with their fingers crossed).
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The civil war had not only split the two royal lines but also divided the kingdom’s most powerful nobles into opposing camps.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This way of handling stress occurs when someone acts calm, appeases the threatening person and retreats to de-escalate the situation.
    Michele Patterson Ford, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The city’s first street food market appeases the vast spectrum of palates and preferences, from vegans' to meat-lovers', by featuring ten culinary traders who specialize in ethnic fare from Greece to the bayous of Louisiana.
    Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Princess Diaries star smiles, caresses her belly, then ducks out of the frame.
    Redazione People, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026
  • Those of us with a penchant for fashion have managed—not without effort—to put aside the knowing glances, caresses, and hugs to take in every detail of the look.
    Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • With no score, the film’s vivid sound design of billowing foliage, creaky doors and floorboards, creates an austere ambience that softens with quiet feeling as the contours of the family’s troubles are gradually filled out.
    Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The former works on the surface of the skin and delivers an immediate boost of hydration that instantly plumps fine lines and softens skin texture.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • His clients included the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo and Elizabeth Taylor, as well as prominent aristocrats and other Hollywood celebrities.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Resentment swelled among the aristocrats, who had no desire to be grouped with the Judenseite (Jewish side).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Caffeine supports healthy follicle function, biotin promotes keratin production, peptides reinforce the hair fiber, and moisturizing panthenol softens hair and soothes dryness.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • With only three ingredients—water, sodium chloride, and hypochlorous acid—the on-the-go spritzer soothes skin and fights bacteria.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Taken from their backside, the pair is seen carrying golf clubs as the former NSYNC star pats his son on the head.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In police body camera footage, which Feder shared with WCCO, Feder gets out with his hands up and an officer pats him down.
    Ashley Grams, CBS News, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • In one scene, Maddie gently comforts an elderly man whose brother was killed at the Pentagon when hijackers struck the building.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Further video shows officers calmly evacuating two small children as the kids' family comforts them.
    Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Gentles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentles. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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