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kind

[kahynd] / kaɪnd /






Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for kind?
The word kind is most commonly used in two very different ways: as an adjective meaning benevolent and as a noun meaning type. There are several synonyms for each. benevolent Kind is an adjective describing someone (or their actions) as good and benevolent. The adjectives loving and caring can mean the same thing. Synonyms that imply that a person is generally kind include the related words kindly and kindhearted (and the similar words goodhearted, bighearted, warmhearted, and tenderhearted). The term good-natured is sometimes used in this way. Being kind is often thought of as more than simply being polite or nice. (See more about the difference between kind and nice in the section below.) Words that imply an active form of benevolence include charitable, compassionate, and altruistic. Considerate and thoughtful suggest that a person actively thinks about how to treat others well. The word empathetic is often used in this way. type Kind is also commonly used to mean type, as in What kind/type of car are you shopping for? The words class, category, and sort can be used to mean the same thing. The words brand and breed both have more specific meanings, but can also be used in general contexts (often in a slightly figurative way). This is the sense of kind used in one of a kind.
What is a better word for kind?
Kind is a somewhat general term. Perhaps the best substitute for kind is the word that’s the most specific—the one that best fits what you’re trying to describe. Words like charitable, compassionate, and empathetic are all more specific, each suggesting something slightly different about how someone behaves or treats others. Still, if someone is generally kind, this may be simply the best way to describe them.
How is kind different from nice?
Kind and nice are often used as synonyms. However, it’s possible to be nice but not kind. Kindness is often seen as more active and benevolent. Someone who’s considered nice is polite and friendly. But that doesn’t mean they do good things for people or help others. In other words, kind describes people who are benevolent, helpful, and unselfish, while nice typically describes people who are simply pleasant to be around. Of course, the two often overlap.

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.

See Examples For:

They aren’t exciting, but they’re a decent bulwark against the kind of “exciting” we’ve been living through, with brief interruptions, for a decade now.

From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2026

“My New York friends tend to think of the ’60s as a kind of golden moment that’s now been erased by commercial focus,” Berlant told The Times in 2018.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

Weeks says he agrees with the characterization, and suggests Starlink could go so far as to turn into a customer, given its move into data centers, which require fiber optics like the kind Corning offers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

"We have been doing this business for more than 40 years, but we've never seen this kind of disaster."

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

If I refused, he’d have thought that he wasn’t a priority for me, and what kind of girlfriend would do that?

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Beyond individual concentration risks, they now have to monitor the complex interlinking of many AI-financing arrangements and the various kinds of lending that goes into each project.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

The idea behind the $1 permits is to turn more areas of L.A. into homes for all kinds of productions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

They can only invest in short-dated Treasury securities for the most part, unlike a bank, which is lending money out to all kinds of ventures that have risk associated with them.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026

By revealing this previously overlooked structure, the team offers a new way to understand what words communicate and why certain kinds of meaning dominate everyday conversation.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

“Please, sir, what kinds of jobs can you help us get?”

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

But she acknowledges that her distinct approach — kinder, gentler, more tearful — is rooted in her particular skill set: “It’s similar to how I responded to being led in kitchens,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

The "Country Roads" appeal lies in the way it conveys "a kinder, simpler era with less conflict and division," said Doug Hartmann, a sociology professor at the University of Minnesota.

From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026

"If I'd have known this community was out there years ago, I'd have probably been kinder to myself and more accepting that I don't have to conform to any stereotypes."

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

So far, insiders say his promised “regime change” has been kinder and gentler than feared—more courtship than chain saw.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

Be kinder to Bessie, Zooey, when you can.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Eleanor, who worked for housing association Valleys to Coast which runs the complex, has been described by her family as the "kindest, most loving, bravest person in the world".

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

On Tuesday, it emerged she wrote a letter in 2016 to the New York judge in the Pham case describing him as "one of the kindest, honest, most sincere" people she had known.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Milo Manheim, who played Zed, shared a series of photos with the caption: "Love you Carlaboo, the sweetest, kindest, most loving person."

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

That’s just about the kindest thing the congressman has had to say about his would-be successor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

It seems like the kindest reason I can think of.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett


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