meekness

noun

meek·​ness ˈmēk-nəs How to pronounce meekness (audio)
: the quality or state of being meek : a mild, moderate, humble, or submissive quality
He is accomplished in the art of approaching strangers, donning an air of such meekness and respect that no one can believe for long that he's a cop.William Finnegan
His stance on Chinese trade has wavered to date between sheer intimidation on the campaign trail and meekness in actual negotiations.Sara Hsu

Examples of meekness in a Sentence

like most other things, meekness is best practiced in moderation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most Canadians want uncomplicated lives, a desire for calm that can be misinterpreted by louder people as meekness. Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025 Standing next to a record player in a sports jacket and turtleneck, Kaufman, with a kind of bulging meekness, a glisteningly gleeful timidity, puts the needle on the record. James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2025 There is no meekness to his game. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025 But to see Bass as a kumbaya leader — or to mistake her softness for meekness — is to fundamentally misunderstand her. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2024 Its rejection of the player feels somehow intentional—the result of meekness, perhaps, or some unknowable thought process. Patrick House, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 Watch Leo on Netflix Anger Management Sandler stars alongside Jack Nicholson in 2003’s Anger Management, about a mild-mannered man (Sandler) who learns to overcome his meekness with the help of a loud, brash, slobby anger management coach (Nicholson). Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Dempsey brings the perfect balance of awkwardness and genuine romanticism to his scenes with Peterson, and forges a believable arc from meekness to self-confidence for Ronald. Ew Staff, EW.com, 8 Nov. 2023 But her ennui shouldn’t be mistaken for blandness or meekness. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2022

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meekness was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Meekness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meekness. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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