Meaning 1
Gentle in manner and not given to harshness or aggression.
Reach for it when describing a person's tone, expression, or temperament
Her mild reply gave the nervous speaker room to continue.
Meaning 2
Moderate in force, severity, flavor, or weather.
Reach for it when describing conditions that are limited rather than intense
A mild breeze kept the courtyard comfortable through lunch.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday |
| |
| warm |
| |
| professional | ||
| formal | ||
| literary |
warm
Fits when kindness and lack of force are central
Careful Gentle can imply softness without the steady restraint of a mild temperament.
warm
Fits when a person's quiet voice shapes the impression
Careful Soft-spoken describes volume and manner, not beliefs or behavior.
warm
Fits when someone avoids imposing on others or seeking attention
Careful Unassuming concerns self-presentation, not harshness.
professional
Fits when emotional steadiness and low reactivity deserve praise
Careful Even temper does not necessarily imply a gentle manner.
literary
meek
Fits when submissive gentleness is specifically intended
Careful Meek can imply lack of agency and is often patronizing.
everyday
slight
Fits when small degree or severity is the exact claim
Careful Slight can minimize symptoms or effects that matter to the person experiencing them.
professional
low-intensity
Fits when measurable force or effort is limited
Careful The technical phrase is awkward for weather, flavor, or personality.
professional
Fits when degree stays between extremes
Careful Moderate is analytical and lacks mild's sensory gentleness.
professional
subtle
Fits when an effect is delicate and not immediately forceful
Careful Subtle may be complex or hidden rather than mild.
formal
Fits when climate or conduct avoids extremes
Careful Temperate is formal and does not fit flavor or a minor illness.
mild manner
His mild manner helped the tense interview feel less adversarial.
mild weather
Mild weather allowed repairs to continue into November.
mild flavor
The mild flavor makes the cheese useful in both sweet and savory dishes.
relatively mild
The second storm was relatively mild but still required caution.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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