benevolent
Inclined toward kindness
If you lined up adjectives in two columns headed by good and bad, benevolent would be firmly in the good column, opposite its exact opposite malevolent.
Benevolent means intending or doing good and is typically used to characterize people or things.
A benevolent society is a somewhat formal or old-fashioned name for a charity.
Oxymoronically, benevolent often appears before the noun dictator to characterize an absolute ruler who uses his power for good.
Feeling what others feel
- sympatheticFeeling others' emotions
- caringShowing kind concern
- tenderheartedReadily feeling sympathy
- warmheartedAffectionate and sympathetic
merciful · lenient · forgiving · understanding · tolerant · gentle · kindhearted · humane
Voluntary charitable gift
- fundraisingSoliciting money for organizations
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
aid · relief · endowment · patronage · sponsorship · grant · scholarship · contribution
Extravagantly generous in giving
- largessLiberal bestowal of gifts
- bountifulPlentiful and generous
- openhandedGiving freely, ungrudgingly
- magnanimousNoble and forgiving
liberal · unstinting · lavish · freehanded · big-hearted · gracious · indulgent · provident
Supreme in power
- monarchHereditary supreme ruler
- dictatorRuler with total control
- despotRuler with absolute power
- autocratSole wielder of power
patron · leader · overlord · governance · paternalistic · enlightened · wise · just
Free from deception
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- ethicalConforming to moral principles
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
- righteousMorally good, justified
honorable · conscientious · dutiful · high-minded · upstanding · noble · just · equitable
Peacefully cooperative in manner
- friendlinessWarm, welcoming disposition
- cordialitySincere friendly warmth
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- warmthHeat you feel
favor · harmony · peace · decency · respect · courtesy · sincerity · supportiveness
Support given freely
- reliefEasing of distress
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- activismDirect effort for reform
- advocacyPleading for a cause
crisis · poverty · shelter · education · healthcare · empowerment · peacebuilding · refugee
Of or like mothers
- paternalOf or from father
- fatherlyLike a male parent
- motherlyShowing parental warmth
- avuncularKindly like an elder
protective · doting · parental · grandfatherly · grandmotherly · watchful · guardian · sheltering
empathetic
Feeling what others feel
- sympatheticFeeling others' emotions
- caringShowing kind concern
- tenderheartedReadily feeling sympathy
warmhearted · merciful · lenient · forgiving · understanding · tolerant · gentle · kindhearted · humane · solicitous
donation
Voluntary charitable gift
- fundraisingSoliciting money for organizations
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
volunteer · aid · relief · endowment · patronage · sponsorship · grant · scholarship · contribution · welfare
munificent
Extravagantly generous in giving
- largessLiberal bestowal of gifts
- bountifulPlentiful and generous
- openhandedGiving freely, ungrudgingly
magnanimous · liberal · unstinting · lavish · freehanded · big-hearted · gracious · indulgent · provident · beneficence
sovereign
Supreme in power
autocrat · patron · leader · overlord · governance · paternalistic · enlightened · wise · just · fair
honest
Free from deception
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- ethicalConforming to moral principles
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
righteous · honorable · conscientious · dutiful · high-minded · upstanding · noble · just · equitable · fair-minded
amicable
Peacefully cooperative in manner
- friendlinessWarm, welcoming disposition
- cordialitySincere friendly warmth
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
warmth · favor · harmony · peace · decency · respect · courtesy · sincerity · supportiveness · neighborly
aid
Support given freely
- reliefEasing of distress
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- activismDirect effort for reform
advocacy · crisis · poverty · shelter · education · healthcare · empowerment · peacebuilding · refugee · famine
maternal
Of or like mothers
avuncular · protective · doting · parental · grandfatherly · grandmotherly · watchful · guardian · sheltering
- gentlegentle, mild, soft, tender, meek
- kind traitskind, caring, compassionate, nurturing, tender
- moral judgmentsgood, evil, wicked, virtuous, moral
- SAT vocabularyaesthetic, ambiguous, candid, concise, diligent
- virtuousvirtuous, righteous, moral, upright, pure
- helpfulkind, useful, friendly, supportive, generous
benevolentselfish
Concerned only with oneself
miserly · stingy · tightfisted · greedy · uncharitable
- benevolent societyGroup organized for charity
- benevolent overlordKind ruler with total control
- benevolent despot
- divine benevolenceGodly goodness toward creation
- benevolent societiesMutual assistance organizations