benign
adjective
Gentle and kindly; not harmful in effect; of a disease, not malignant or dangerous.
Etymology
From Old French benigne, from Latin benignus "kind, generous," from bene "well" + gignere "to beget."
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The tumor was benign, much to everyone's relief."
- 2.
"The dictator initially appeared benign but grew ruthless."
- 3.
"A benign climate made the region ideal for agriculture."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
In medicine, benign is the opposite of malignant. Malignant (from Latin for "evil") describes cancers that spread; benign tumors stay localized. The language reflects how we morally frame disease.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 6 letters (B, E, N, I, G, N)
Scrabble Value: 9 points
Tip: The letter pattern in "BENIGN" appears in many related words.
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