Alms
What it means
Money, food, or goods given to people in need as charity.
Reach for it when describing direct material giving, especially in religious or historical contexts
Anonymous alms supplied hot meals during the cold week.
Words to choose between 5
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| professional | |
| formal |
|
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playful
handouts
Fits when informal direct distribution is being discussed critically
Careful Handouts often carries contempt, undermining the dignity of voluntary giving.
-
everyday
Fits when the broad practice of voluntary aid is meant
Careful Charity can include institutional work rather than direct gifts.
-
everyday
donations
Fits when specific contributed money or goods are the fact
Careful Donations can support any cause, not necessarily people in need.
-
professional
Fits when material help responds to urgent hardship
Careful Relief can be public aid or services rather than voluntary gifts.
-
formal
offerings
Fits when religious giving is central
Careful Offerings may support worship rather than relieve poverty.
Opposites 3
- withholding
- avarice
- neglect
Common phrases 3
-
give alms
Several families give alms quietly throughout the year.
-
alms for the poor
The collection provided alms for the poor during winter.
-
receive alms
Travelers could receive alms at the monastery gate.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neskaya, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated