Gentle describes the natural disposition; tame, that which is subdued by training; mild implies a temper which is, by nature, not easily provoked; meek, a spirit which has been schooled to mildness by discipline or suffering. The lamb is gentle; the domestic fowl is tame; John, the Apostle, was mild; Moses was meek.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Example sentences

pleasant Tell me something pleasant to make me feel better.
gentle A noble man by woman's gentle word may oft be led.
temperate Heathers can grow very well in temperate climates.
meek Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
tempered Do people ever accuse you of being quick-tempered?

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
mild		steady
pleasant		rising
gentle		rising
temperate		steady
meek		rising
tempered		steady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: kind¹, soft¹, warm¹, calm¹, meek¹
5 letters: sweet¹, quiet², sunny², tepid²
6 letters: gentle², tender², humble², modest², benign², placid²
7 letters: clement², affable³
8 letters: moderate³, pleasant², soothing², tempered², tranquil²
9 letters: temperate², indulgent³
13 letters: unextravagant

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (quiet² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: doux
Español: suave
Català: dolç