benign

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
9
Words With Friends
13
Letters
6
Pronunciation
/bɪˈnaɪn/
See all 2 pronunciations
/bɪˈnaɪn/ · /bɪˈnɑen/

Definition of benign

4 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

adj

  1. Kind; gentle; mild.
    “But though we both entertained these ideas, we differed in their application. Resentment added also a sting to my censure; and I reprobated Raymond's conduct in severe terms. Adrian was more benign, more considerate.”
    “I people my world with benign spirits. Everything talks to me and I respond to it.”
    “During it, [Ashley] Graham attempted to ask the actor [Hugh Grant] a series of benign questions, and he gave her very little to work with.”
See all 4 definitions

adj

  1. Kind; gentle; mild.
    “But though we both entertained these ideas, we differed in their application. Resentment added also a sting to my censure; and I reprobated Raymond's conduct in severe terms. Adrian was more benign, more considerate.”
    “I people my world with benign spirits. Everything talks to me and I respond to it.”
    “During it, [Ashley] Graham attempted to ask the actor [Hugh Grant] a series of benign questions, and he gave her very little to work with.”
  2. Mild and favorable.
  3. (in-compounds)Not harmful to the environment.
    “an ozone-benign refrigerant”
  4. Not posing any serious threat to health; not particularly aggressive or recurrent.
    “a benign tumor”
    “Despite the gruesome way it looks, cottontail rabbit papillomavirus is often benign, and many rabbits end up fighting it off on their own.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English benigne, benygne, from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus (“kind, good”), from bene (“well”) + genus (“origin, kind”). Compare malign.

Anagrams of benign

2 plays · some not in Scrabble

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