Meekness: meaning, definitions and examples

Meekness can be used when describing someone who is very quiet, gentle, and unwilling to argue or express strong opinions. It often implies a lack of assertiveness.

• Her meekness in discussions made her a calming presence in the group.
• He approached the situation with meekness, letting others take the lead.

Humility is appropriate when describing someone who is humble, recognizes their limitations, and does not boast about their achievements. It is often used in a positive light.

• His humility after winning the award made him even more admired.
• She showed humility by acknowledging her team's effort in the success.

Gentleness is best used when referring to someone who is kind, mild, and caring in their actions and speech, often in a positive way.

• He showed great gentleness when handling the newborn puppy.
• Her gentleness towards the children helped them feel safe and loved.

Submissiveness is commonly used in a more negative context where someone easily yields to others' will or authority, often to an excessive or unhealthy degree.

• Her submissiveness in the relationship caused her to lose her sense of self.
• He displayed submissiveness to his boss, agreeing to every unreasonable request.