benevolence
Goodwill toward others
Benevolence is a disposition toward kindness and generosity—wishing well for others and acting on that wish.
The word suggests warmth without expectation of return: The scholarship was funded by the benevolence of anonymous donors.
A benevolent ruler governs with concern for subjects' welfare.
Benevolence can also name a specific charitable gift or act.
Prioritizing others over oneself
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- humanitarianismPromoting welfare through compassion
- volunteerismUnpaid community assistance
- unselfishnessConcern for others' welfare
prosocial · idealism · magnanimity · big-heartedness · public-spirited · nobility · ubuntu · service
Sharing another's emotions
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- caringShowing kind concern
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
warmth · tenderness · mercy · concern · consolation · solace · gentleness · nurturing
Voluntary charitable gift
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- fundraisingSoliciting money for organizations
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
aid · relief · endowment · contribution · patronage · grants · welfare · assistance
Readiness to give freely
- thoughtfulnessAttentive care for others
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- graciousnessCourteous, kind demeanor
goodwill · decency · helpfulness · hospitality · neighborliness · friendliness · cordiality · obligingness
Moral excellence
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
grace · honor · uprightness · rectitude · high-mindedness · probity · virtue · worthiness
selflessness
Prioritizing others over oneself
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- humanitarianismPromoting welfare through compassion
- volunteerismUnpaid community assistance
unselfishness · prosocial · idealism · magnanimity · big-heartedness · public-spirited · nobility · ubuntu · service · self-denial
empathy
Sharing another's emotions
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- caringShowing kind concern
- understandingMental comprehension of something
sensitivity · warmth · tenderness · mercy · concern · consolation · solace · gentleness · nurturing · supportive
donation
Voluntary charitable gift
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- fundraisingSoliciting money for organizations
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
humanitarian · aid · relief · endowment · contribution · patronage · grants · welfare · assistance · giving
generosity
Readiness to give freely
- thoughtfulnessAttentive care for others
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
graciousness · goodwill · decency · helpfulness · hospitality · neighborliness · friendliness · cordiality · obligingness · attentiveness
goodness
Moral excellence
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- moralityRight and wrong principles
ethics · grace · honor · uprightness · rectitude · high-mindedness · probity · virtue · worthiness · merit
- compassionsympathy, empathy, caring, kindness, tenderness
- Volunteeringvolunteer, volunteering, volunteer hours, unpaid work, volunteer coordinators
- Buddhist virtuesdana, generosity, morality, patience, perseverance
- Confucian Virtuesrighteousness, propriety, faithfulness
- Islamic ethicsihsan, moral virtues, ethical conduct, birr, divine law
- Jewish charitygemilut chasadim, alms, charitable giving, tikkun olam, loving-kindness
benevolenceselfishness
Excessive concern for oneself
miserliness · greed · greediness · stinginess · avarice
- benevolent societyGroup organized for charity
- benevolent overlordKind ruler with total control
- benevolent despot
- divine benevolenceGodly goodness toward creation
- benevolent societiesMutual assistance organizations