benign

Definition of benign

harmless; having little effect

Synonyms for benign

• innocuous
• benignant
• gentle

benign in a Sentence

1. Despite causing some initial discomfort, the process is benign.

Why benign Matters for GRE & SAT

"benign" is a adjective that means "harmless; having little effect" closely related to words like "innocuous", "benignant", "gentle". As a word starting with B, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "benign" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "benign" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (adjective). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "benign" into long-term memory.

How to Remember benign

One effective way to remember "benign" (adjective) is to group it with similar words you already know: "innocuous" and "benignant" and "gentle". When you encounter "benign" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "harmless; having little effect".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "benign" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

Related Words

• banal — unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity
• banish — expel from a place, especially as punishment; get rid of
• baroque — overly detailed or ornamental
• barrage — an overwhelming concentration of something, typically hostile words
• barren — incapable of producing offspring or fruit; unproductive

More Vocabulary Words Starting with B

• banal — unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity
• banal — unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity
• banish — expel from a place, especially as punishment; get rid of
• banish — expel from a place, especially as punishment; get rid of
• baroque — overly detailed or ornamental
• baroque — overly detailed or ornamental
• barrage — an overwhelming concentration of something, typically hostile words
• barrage — an overwhelming concentration of something, typically hostile words
• barren — incapable of producing offspring or fruit; unproductive
• barren — incapable of producing offspring or fruit; unproductive