mild

The word “mild” means gentle in temperament; not quick to anger or harshness. In plain terms, gentle, moderate, or not-too-strong — used for personalities, weather, illness, and flavour alike.

“Mild” is pronounced MYLD (/ˈmaɪld/ in IPA).

Here is “mild” used in a sentence: “She gave a mild rebuke instead of the shouting match he expected.”

Words with a similar meaning to “mild” include soft, gentle, bland, calm, tranquil and soothing.

The opposite of “mild” — its antonyms — are strong, harsh, severe, irritating and violent.

Depending on how it is used, “mild” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “mild” comes from Old English. From Old English milde ("gentle, mild"), tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to grind" or "to crush" — the idea being something worn down soft rather than rough.

“Mild” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Both suggest softness, but gentle emphasizes a kind, careful, tender manner, while mild stresses being not severe, not strong, or not extreme. A gentle touch is careful; a mild flavour is faint.

When describing food, mild means having little heat and a subtle, delicate flavour, whereas spicy means having strong heat from chilli or pepper. Mild is usually the option chosen by people who prefer less intense flavours.

The opposite depends on the sense: for temperament or severity it is often harsh or severe, and for flavour or weather it is strong, intense, or extreme. Mild always points toward the gentler, less extreme end of the scale.