mild

[ mahyld ]

adjective

, mild·er, mild·est.

1. amiably gentle or temperate in feeling or behavior toward others.

   Synonyms: pleasant, soft

   Antonyms: forceful

2. characterized by or showing such gentleness, as manners or speech:

   a mild voice.

3. not cold, severe, or extreme, as air or weather:

   mild breezes.

   Synonyms: clement, moderate, temperate

   Antonyms: severe

4. not sharp, pungent, or strong:

   a mild flavor.

   Synonyms: bland

5. not acute or serious, as disease:

   a mild case of flu.

6. gentle or moderate in force or effect:

   mild penalties.

   Antonyms: harsh

7. soft; pleasant:

   mild sunshine.

8. moderate in intensity, degree, or character:

   mild regret.

9. British Dialect. comparatively soft and easily worked, as soil, wood, or stone.
10. Obsolete. kind or gracious.

noun

1. British. beer that has a blander taste than bitter.

mild

/ maɪld /

adjective

1. (of a taste, sensation, etc) not powerful or strong; bland

   a mild curry

2. gentle or temperate in character, climate, behaviour, etc
3. not extreme; moderate

   a mild rebuke

4. feeble; unassertive

noun

1. draught beer, of darker colour than bitter and flavoured with fewer hops

Derived Forms

• ˈmildness, noun
• ˈmildly, adverb

Other Words From

• mildly adverb
• mildness noun
• over·mild adjective
• semi·mild adjective
• semi·mildness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mild¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English milde; cognate with German mild; akin to Greek malthakós “soft”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mild¹

Old English milde; compare Old Saxon mildi, Old Norse mildr

Synonym Study

See gentle.

Example Sentences

Many are asymptomatic or mild, but dengue can cause severe pain, fever, rashes, and nausea, and is sometimes fatal.

From Science Magazine

Though some patients experienced mild and transient side effects such as nausea, dizziness and daytime sleepiness, there were no serious adverse events and no rebound in symptom severity after the drug wore off.

From Science Daily

Furthermore, you can’t look at the numbers on Trump’s spectacular gains with Hispanics and milder but still appreciable gains with Blacks and Asian Americans and then blame Harris’s defeat on racism.

From Salon

There were some mild side effects such as nausea and dizziness, but no serious ones, say the researchers.

From BBC

Psychotic-like experiences resemble symptoms of psychosis, but are milder, less frequent and much more common than psychotic disorders.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• balmy
• benign
• bland
• breezy
• calm
• cool
• delicate
• mellow
• moderate
• peaceful
• smooth
• soft
• sunny
• tepid
• warm
• weak