kindness means the state of being kind. It carries an Arena rating of 1687, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, kindness ranks #1,230 of 13,218 for Most Beautiful Words, #1,392 of 13,218 for Most Elegant Words, #4,567 of 13,218 for Most Ingenious Words, #5,198 of 13,218 for Most Malleable Words.
kindness is pronounced /ˈkaɪnd.nəs/.
Why “kindness” is a great word
The quality of being friendly, generously considerate, and benevolently disposed toward others. From Middle English *kyndenesse*, built upon *kind*—in its older sense of “natural, native, benevolent”—joined to the abstract-forming suffix *-ness*, with its gentle presence first attested c. 1300. Unlike “generosity,” which speaks chiefly to the open-handed gift, or “politeness,” which can be a polished mask of mere etiquette, kindness is the deeper, more porous disposition of the heart. It is the patience in a stranger’s voice giving directions for the second time, the quiet cup of tea set before someone weeping, and the warm pressure of a hand on a shoulder in a crowded room—a deliberate, gentle heat applied to the cold, hard edges of existence.
Etymology
From Middle English kyndenesse, equivalent to kind + -ness.
noun
- The state of being kind.“Jamie's kindness is legendary, so much that people have taken advantage of her.”
- An instance of kind or charitable behaviour.“How can I thank you for your many kindnesses?”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.