kid gloves

NOUN

tact and gentleness

Synonyms

WEAK

delicacy fastidiousness gentle handling gentleness good taste kid-glove treatment leniency light hand light rein refinement tact tolerance velvet glove

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"That kind of argument really belongs to the past," he says, noting the idea that foreign investors "have to be treated with kid gloves or they run away... no longer has much force".

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Given that Mr. Carlson’s journey into a vile and very weird world has been well documented, it’s no surprise he’d treat Mr. Fuentes with kid gloves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

But the idea of handling such a gleeful provocateur with kid gloves seems to somehow miss the point of De Palma’s work.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2024

Pittsburgh has used kid gloves with Jones at times, though he also threw a career-high 96 pitches over seven brilliant innings against Colorado last weekend.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024

Some bridge tallies with tassels on them, two pairs of white kid gloves.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood