blessing
noun
bless·ing ˈble-siŋ 
1
a
: the act or words of one that blesses
say the blessing over the wine
a priestly blessing
b
: approval, encouragement
asked her parents for their blessing before he proposed
2
: a thing conducive to happiness or welfare
My daughter is a blessing to me in my old age.
Their absence turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Count your blessings.
3
: grace (see grace entry 1 sense 5) said at a meal
said the blessing before dinner
Synonyms
- benediction
- benison
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Presumably he was acting with the government's blessing. They got married without their parents' blessing. We asked the Lord's blessing on us and on our project. He said a blessing before the meal.
Recent Examples on the Web Weekend storms could be a mixed blessing for crews battling California’s largest wildfire. 
Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2022 The recovery process served as a blessing in disguise for the University of Albany commit. Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 To witness the looks on her expressive face — the joy, the sadness, the reflection, the anticipation— is to realize that Sue Bird’s last game was not a farewell to basketball, but a blessing for all of sports. Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Sep. 2022 Which was a blessing for me because normally in bandstands, the drummer is placed in the back. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2022 But Trump is no more than a mixed blessing for the GOP. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 28 July 2022 Not having to prepare for camp and the season has been the biggest blessing for me. Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 23 July 2022 Europe’s decision to shun oil and refined gasoline from Russia has been a blessing for U.S. refiners, by tightening the global gasoline supply, as Europe increases its demand of imports from the Middle East and other locations. University Of Houston Energy Fellows, Forbes, 6 July 2022 Having the support of a company like Studio MDHR has always felt like a huge blessing, and an opportunity that many composers wouldn’t have until much further into their careers. Josh Chesler, SPIN, 15 June 2022 See More
Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2022 The recovery process served as a blessing in disguise for the University of Albany commit. Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 To witness the looks on her expressive face — the joy, the sadness, the reflection, the anticipation— is to realize that Sue Bird’s last game was not a farewell to basketball, but a blessing for all of sports. Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Sep. 2022 Which was a blessing for me because normally in bandstands, the drummer is placed in the back. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2022 But Trump is no more than a mixed blessing for the GOP. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 28 July 2022 Not having to prepare for camp and the season has been the biggest blessing for me. Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 23 July 2022 Europe’s decision to shun oil and refined gasoline from Russia has been a blessing for U.S. refiners, by tightening the global gasoline supply, as Europe increases its demand of imports from the Middle East and other locations. University Of Houston Energy Fellows, Forbes, 6 July 2022 Having the support of a company like Studio MDHR has always felt like a huge blessing, and an opportunity that many composers wouldn’t have until much further into their careers. Josh Chesler, SPIN, 15 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see bless
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing blessing
Kids Definition
blessing
noun
bless·ing
ˈble-sing
1
: the act of someone who blesses
2
: approval
Voters gave their blessing to the plan.
3
: something that makes a person happy or content
We enjoy the blessings of peace.
4
: a short prayer She said a blessing before dinner.
blessing 1 of 2
noun
1
as in prayer
a prayer calling for divine care, protection, or favor that rabbi always ends the service with a short blessing Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- prayer
- benediction
- benison
- petition
- plea
- laying on of hands
- intercession
- invocation
- grace
- supplication
- orison
- entreaty
- sanctification
- appeal
- Godspeed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- curse
- anathema
- malediction
- imprecation
- execration
2
as in benefit
something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing winning the lottery shortly after being laid off was an unexpected blessing Synonyms & Similar Words
- benefit
- boon
- gift
- benediction
- windfall
- relief
- bonus
- godsend
- good
- felicity
- consolation
- grace
- advantage
- assistance
- manna
- mercy
- joy
- support
- help
- aid
- comfort
- kindness
- delight
- pleasure
- solace
- mitzvah
- extra
- favor
- lagniappe
- anodyne
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- curse
- evil
- plague
- affliction
- bane
- scourge
- nuisance
- disadvantage
- pest
- hex
- irritant
- bother
- cross
- misery
- jinx
- trial
- hoodoo
- tribulation
3
as in approval
an acceptance of something as satisfactory Mr. Roberts promptly gave his blessing to his daughter's choice of husband Synonyms & Similar Words
- approval
- favor
- support
- approbation
- nod
- imprimatur
- assent
- vote
- endorsement
- backing
- okay
- clean bill of health
- sanction
- benediction
- pat on the back
- ratification
- consent
- goodwill
- formalization
- finalization
- satisfaction
- OK
- rubber stamp
- cachet
- liking
- agreement
- accession
- acceptation
- thumbs-up
- homologation
- indorsement
- concurrence
- countenance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disapproval
- rejection
- refusal
- disfavor
- repudiation
- condemnation
- disapprobation
- criticism
- dissatisfaction
- censure
- disparagement
- depreciation
- opprobrium
- denunciation
- dislike
- reproach
- reprobation
- reprehension
- deprecation
4
as in consecration
the act of making something holy through religious ritual traditionally, worshippers kneel during the blessing of the communion wafers Synonyms & Similar Words
- consecration
- purification
- worship
- sanctification
- adoration
- reverence
- hallowing
- dedication
- veneration
- glorification
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- desecration
- irreverence
- impiety
- profanation
- debasement
- defilement
- sacrilege
blessing
2 of 2verb
1
as in consecrating
to make holy through prayers or ritual the priest blessed the water, thus allowing it to be used as holy water for various rites Synonyms & Similar Words
- consecrating
- sanctifying
- sacralizing
- hallowing
- dedicating
- cleansing
- spiritualizing
- purifying
- baptizing
- lustrating
- devoting
- chastening
- exorcising
- baptising
- expurgating
- canonizing
- reconsecrating
- exorcizing
- committing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- violating
- desecrating
- cursing
- defiling
- desanctifying
- deconsecrating
- polluting
- profaning
- desacralizing
- punishing
- tainting
- damning
- dirtying
- blaspheming
- soiling
- cussing
- fouling
- damning
- condemning
- execrating
- casting out
2
as in celebrating
to proclaim the glory of bless the name of God Synonyms & Similar Words
- celebrating
- praising
- worshipping
- worshiping
- hymning
- extolling
- exalting
- lauding
- magnifying
- cheering
- applauding
- saluting
- resounding
- hailing
- chanting
- glorifying
- caroling
- emblazoning
- complimenting
- carolling
- commending
- belauding
- adoring
- eulogizing
- acclaiming
- idolizing
- deifying
- renowning
- flattering
- citing
- rhapsodizing
- recommending
- touting
- cracking up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blaming
- criticizing
- censuring
- reproving
- reprobating
- admonishing
- reprehending
- rebuking
- chiding
- reprimanding
- reproaching
- keelhauling
- lambasting
- castigating
3
as in gifting
to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute blessed with a knack for glib conversation Synonyms & Similar Words
- gifting
- endowing
- equipping
- providing
- induing
- enduing
- empowering
- granting
- investing
- favoring
- supplying
- enriching
- clothing
- enabling
- enhancing
- according
- willing
- bequeathing
- awarding
- bestowing (on or upon)
- heightening
- covering
- conferring (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stripping
- exhausting
- draining
- divesting
- depleting
- dispossessing
- stinting
- skimping