benevolent smile

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "benevolent smile" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a smile that conveys kindness, goodwill, or a sense of caring. Example: "She greeted the children with a benevolent smile, making them feel at ease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"I'm not," she said with a benevolent smile.

The New York Times

Macalister followed his directions with a benevolent smile, possibly amused by my father's histrionics.

The New Yorker

Mr. Horenstein assumed the benevolent smile of one who's been asked such questions before.

The New York Times

"Welcome to a free Egypt," he said, with a benevolent smile on his tired, puffy face.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Of course," he added with a benevolent smile, "it would add to the myth of the C.S.U".

The New York Times

The arbiter smiled a benevolent smile that suggested he has seen better dives, and gestured the Peruvian to stay on his feet and play the game.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Put him, sometime colleague Prof Robert Winston, and a bunch of primary-school children in a room together and you wouldn't be able to breathe, such would be the twinkly eyed wonderment and benevolent smiles slow-mo-ing all over the place.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But he munched his allotment slowly, uninterestedly, restoring his benevolent half smile after every bite.

The New Yorker

Jones hovers over Ellis' funzapoppin' proceedings as if he's a benevolent sun smiling down.

Huffington Post

Reality TV judges these days are smiling, benevolent creatures American Idol's Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. couldn't offend a fly if they wanted to.

Vice

Recap: We open with a montage of Christmas goodwill featuring Father Shay, a priest with cheeks so rosy and a smile so benevolent you just know he's hiding something dark and terrible beneath those robes.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "benevolent smile" to specifically convey a sense of goodwill, kindness, or a superior bestowing favor. Ensure the context aligns with this nuanced meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "benevolent smile" when a simpler term like "kind smile" or "warm smile" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnatural or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "benevolent smile" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "benevolent" modifies the noun "smile". It describes a specific type of smile characterized by kindness and goodwill, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "benevolent smile" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, although Ludwig AI indicates it is not overly common. It functions as a noun phrase, describing a smile characterized by kindness and goodwill. Its usage is most prevalent in news and media sources, and while appropriate for neutral register, alternatives like "kind smile" or "warm smile" may be preferable in more casual contexts. When you want to convey the subject's positive feeling or good intention is a great fit. Avoid overuse to prevent an unnatural tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kind smile

Focuses on the kindness aspect of the smile, omitting the implication of superiority or goodwill towards those in a lower position.

warm smile

Emphasizes the warmth and friendliness of the smile, suggesting a welcoming and approachable demeanor.

gracious smile

Highlights the courteous and refined nature of the smile, implying politeness and elegance.

compassionate smile

Stresses the empathy and caring conveyed by the smile, indicating a deep understanding of others' feelings.

gentle smile

Underscores the softness and tenderness of the smile, suggesting a non-threatening and comforting presence.

amiable smile

Highlights the friendly and good-natured quality of the smile, emphasizing its pleasant and agreeable nature.

benign smile

Similar to benevolent but focuses more on the harmless and gentle nature of the smile.

forgiving smile

Highlights the smile showing or communicating forgiveness.

sympathetic smile

Suggests the smile showing or relating to compassion.

approving smile

Highlights the sense of agreement or accepting shown in the smile.

FAQs

How can I use "benevolent smile" in a sentence?

You can use "benevolent smile" to describe a character's expression, such as: "The teacher greeted the students with a "benevolent smile", making them feel welcome."

What's a good alternative to "benevolent smile"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "kind smile", "warm smile", or "gracious smile" to express similar sentiments.

What does it mean to describe a smile as "benevolent"?

A "benevolent" smile suggests that the person smiling is displaying kindness, goodwill, and perhaps a sense of being helpful or generous. It often implies a superior or caring attitude.

Is "benevolent smile" a common phrase in everyday conversation?

"Benevolent smile" is more frequently found in written text than in spoken conversation. In everyday speech, people might opt for simpler descriptions such as "nice smile" or "friendly smile".