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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective generous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of generous are bountiful, liberal, and munificent. While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

Where would bountiful be a reasonable alternative to generous?

The synonyms bountiful and generous are sometimes interchangeable, but bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

When might liberal be a better fit than generous?

In some situations, the words liberal and generous are roughly equivalent. However, liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

When is munificent a more appropriate choice than generous?

The words munificent and generous can be used in similar contexts, but munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

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 generous The bill realized Newsom’s ambitions to increase the cap on California’s film and television tax incentives from $330 million to $750 million a year, making the state the most generous outside of New York and Georgia, whose program is uncapped. Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025 He is also shut out of the city’s generous public finance matching program for alleged past misdeeds. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 25 June 2025 The agreement more than doubles the amount currently allocated to the program and fulfills a pledge Newsom made last year to help Hollywood better compete with other states and countries that have lured productions away with generous tax incentives. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025 Cho, as the perceptive and generous Jin, distracted from his own family troubles by the sudden flashes of Casey’s bright light, is wise and rejuvenated; disinterested admiration makes this man, who looks to be in his forties, nearly a teen-ager again. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for generous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for generous
Adjective
  • The charitable event, which launched in 2006 as an offshoot of the 24 Hour Plays project, has strict rules.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • Buckingham, on her part, just wants to know the whereabouts of Rak and to go forward with other charitable efforts.
    Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Fresh air is plentiful, relaxation is paramount, and travelers come from the Big Apple and beyond to experience it.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
  • Despite the card’s massive print run and plentiful graded copies, PSA 10s currently command prices around $3,000, which marks a nearly 57 percent price increase over the last two years.
    Tyler Holzhammer, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Not surprisingly, the court’s conservative supermajority upheld the Tennessee law by a 6-3 vote, with the trio of more liberal justices dissenting.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 July 2025
  • For those of us in the trenches of X, the meltdown was a familiar sight, echoing the contempt that the tech elite have directed at San Francisco for years, with the endless lamentations of anarchy at pharmacy branches in Union Square or the liberal policies of politicians like Aaron Peskin.
    Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • The console has ample space on top to display decor like lamps, vases, and books.
    Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 5 July 2025
  • Drown them with an ample amount of water and stir to confirm that everything is cold to the touch.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • In 2005, a benevolent dust devil blew dust off the Spirit rover's solar panels, increasing its power levels.
    Unnati Ashar, Space.com, 2 July 2025
  • Seven, a unity in seeking a sound, fair, and benevolent immigration reform is prompted by economic interest as well.
    Timothy Cardinal Dolan, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Generous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://x0upouf933.proxynodejs.usequeue.com/thesaurus/generous. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on generous

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