Kind vs. Dear: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 23, 2023
"Kind" refers to being considerate or helpful, while "Dear" denotes affection or high regard.
Key Differences
"Kind" implies a nature of benevolence and compassion, reflecting a person's character in being generous or considerate, while "Dear" is a term of endearment or a way to express affection and high estimation toward someone, often indicating closeness or sentimental value.
"Kind" actions are those that show empathy, compassion, or a willingness to help others, suggesting a moral quality, whereas "Dear" is used more to signify emotional attachment or fondness for someone or something, often used in personal correspondence as a salutation or an expression of affection.
A "Kind" person is someone who acts with warmth, understanding, and concern for others, which speaks to their innate qualities or disposition, while someone described as "Dear" is cherished or valued deeply by the speaker, implying a relational or emotional connection rather than a character trait.
"Kind" can also categorize types or varieties of objects, ideas, or people, showing its diverse usage beyond describing personality, whereas "Dear" can refer to something costly or expensive, indicating its usage extends beyond emotional expression to signify importance or high value.
While both "Kind" and "Dear" possess positive connotations, the former predominantly describes an aspect of morality or type, and the latter focuses on personal affection, value, or relation, each holding unique positions in the lexicon of English endearment and description.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Describing benevolence or a type
Expressing affection or value
Connotation
Compassion, assistance
Fondness, esteem
Context of Usage
Personality trait, categorization
Emotional attachment, costliness
Interpersonal Aspect
Reflects on the subject's character
Reflects on the speaker's feelings
Grammatical Usage
Adjective, noun
Adjective, noun, salutation
ADVERTISEMENT
Kind and Dear Definitions
Kind
Intended to help or not cause harm.
He offered some kind advice to the troubled teenager.
Dear
Used as a polite way of starting a letter.
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inquire about your services.
Kind
Showing sympathy or understanding.
She was kind enough to guide me when I was new in the city.
Dear
High in price; expensive.
The cost of living in this city is very dear.
Kind
Having or showing a friendly, generous, sympathetic, or warm-hearted nature.
Dear
Loved and cherished
My dearest friend.
Kind
Agreeable or beneficial
A dry climate kind to asthmatics.
Dear
Greatly valued; precious
Lost everything dear to them.
Kind
A group of individuals or instances sharing common traits; a category or sort
Different kinds of furniture.
A new kind of politics.
Dear
Highly esteemed or regarded. Used in direct address, especially in salutations
Dear Lee Dawson.
Kind
A doubtful or borderline member of a given category
Fashioned a kind of shelter.
A kind of bluish color.
Dear
High-priced; expensive.
Kind
Underlying character as a determinant of the class to which a thing belongs; nature or essence.
Dear
Charging high prices.
Kind
The natural order or course of things; nature.
Dear
Earnest; ardent
"This good man was a dear lover and constant practicer of angling" (Izaak Walton).
Kind
Manner or fashion.
Dear
(Obsolete) Noble; worthy.
Kind
Lineal ancestry or descent.
Dear
Heartfelt
It is my dearest wish.
Kind
Lineal ancestors or descendants considered as a group.
Dear
Severe; grievous; sore
Our dearest need.
Kind
A type, race or category; a group of entities that have common characteristics such that they may be grouped together.
What kind of a person are you?
This is a strange kind of tobacco.
Dear
A person who is greatly loved. Often used as a form of address.
Kind
A makeshift or otherwise atypical specimen.
The opening served as a kind of window.
Dear
An endearing, lovable, or kind person
What a dear she is!.
Kind
(archaic) One's inherent nature; character, natural disposition.
Dear
With fondness; affectionately.
Kind
(archaic) Family, lineage.
Dear
At a high cost
Sold their wares dear.
Kind
(archaic) Manner.
Dear
Used as a polite exclamation, chiefly of surprise or distress
Oh dear.
Dear me.
Kind
Goods or services used as payment, as e.g. in barter.
Dear
(UK) High in price; expensive.
The dearer the jewel, the greater the love expressed.
Kind
Equivalent means used as response to an action.
I'll pay in kind for his insult.
Dear
Loved; lovable.
Kind
(Christianity) Each of the two elements of the communion service, bread and wine.
Dear
Lovely; kind.
Kind
Having a benevolent, courteous, friendly, generous, gentle, liberal, sympathetic, or warm-hearted nature or disposition, marked by consideration for – and service to – others.
Dear
Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
Such dear embrace tenderly comforts even in this dear sorrow.
Kind
Affectionate.
A kind man; a kind heart
Dear
Precious to or greatly valued by someone.
The dearer the giver, the dearer the trinket he brings!
Kind
Favorable.
Dear
A formal way to start (possibly after my) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.
Dear Sir/Madam/Miss, please notice our offices will be closed during the following bank holidays:nb....
Kind
Mild, gentle, forgiving
The years have been kind to Richard Gere; he ages well.
Dear
A formal way to start (often after my) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly.
My dear friend, I feel better as soon as you come sit beside my sickbed!
Kind
Gentle; tractable; easily governed.
A horse kind in harness
Dear
An ironic way to start (often after my) addressing an inferior.
My dear boy, if your grades don't pick up I won't bounce you on, but over my knee!
Kind
(obsolete) Characteristic of the species; belonging to one's nature; natural; native.
Dear
(obsolete) Noble.
Kind
Characteristic of the species; belonging to one's nature; natural; native.
It becometh sweeter than it should be, and loseth the kind taste.
Dear
Severe, or severely affected; sore.
Kind
Having feelings befitting our common nature; congenial; sympathetic; as, a kind man; a kind heart.
Yet was he kind, or if severe in aught,The love he bore to learning was his fault.
Dear
(obsolete) Fierce.
The Christens found the heathens dear, as the lion doth the bear.
Kind
Showing tenderness or goodness; disposed to do good and confer happiness; averse to hurting or paining; benevolent; benignant; gracious.
He is kind unto the unthankful and to evil.
O cruel Death, to those you take more kindThan to the wretched mortals left behind.
A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind.
Dear
A very kind, loving person.
My little cousin is such a dear, always drawing me pictures.
Kind
Proceeding from, or characterized by, goodness, gentleness, or benevolence; as, a kind act.
Dear
A beloved person.
Kind
Gentle; tractable; easily governed; as, a horse kind in harness.
Dear
An affectionate, familiar term of address, such as used between husband and wife.
Pass me the salt, would you dear?
Kind
Nature; natural instinct or disposition.
He knew by kind and by no other lore.
Some of you, on pure instinct of nature,Are led by kind t'admire your fellow-creature.
Dear
An elderly person, especially a woman.
Kind
Race; genus; species; generic class; as, in mankind or humankind.
Every kind of beasts, and of birds.
She follows the law of her kind.
Here to sow the seed of bread,That man and all the kinds be fed.
Dear
(obsolete) To endear.
Kind
Sort; type; class; nature; style; character; fashion; manner; variety; description; as, there are several kinds of eloquence, of style, and of music; many kinds of government; various kinds of soil, etc.
How diversely Love doth his pageants play,And snows his power in variable kinds !
There is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
Diogenes was asked in a kind of scorn: What was the matter that philosophers haunted rich men, and not rich men philosophers?
Tax on tillage was often levied in kind upon corn.
Dear
Dearly; at a high price.
Kind
To beget.
Dear
(dated) Indicating surprise, pity, or disapproval.
Dear, dear! Whatever were they thinking?
Kind
A category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality;
Sculpture is a form of art
What kinds of desserts are there?
Dear
Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.
The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear.
Kind
Having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior;
Kind to sick patients
A kind master
Kind words showing understanding and sympathy
Thanked her for her kind letter
Dear
Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year.
Kind
Liberal;
Kind words of praise
Dear
Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious.
Neither count I my life dear unto myself.
And the last joy was dearer than the rest.
Dear as remember'd kisses after death.
Kind
Conducive to comfort; beneficial;
The genial sunshine
A kind climate
Hot summer pavements are anything but kind to the feet
Dear
Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging the attention.
[I'll] leave you to attend him: some dear causeWill in concealment wrap me up awhile.
His dearest wish was to escape from the bustle and glitter of Whitehall.
Kind
Expressing sympathy
Dear
Of disagreeable things and antipathies.
In our dear peril.
Would I had met my dearest foe in heavenOr ever I had seen that day.
Kind
Characterized by mercy, and compassion;
Compassionate toward disadvantaged people
Kind to animals
A humane judge
Dear
A dear one; lover; sweetheart.
That kiss I carried from thee, dear.
Kind
Agreeable;
A dry climate kind to asthmatics
Dear
Dearly; at a high price.
If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.
Kind
Helpful to other people;
Helping an old lady with her bundles was his kind deed for the day
Dear
To endear.
Kind
Tolerant and forgiving under provocation;
Our neighbor was very kind about the window our son broke
Dear
A beloved person; used as terms of endearment
Kind
Showing consideration and anticipation of needs;
It was thoughtful of you to bring flowers
A neighbor showed thoughtful attention
Dear
A sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)
Kind
Generously responsive;
Good-hearted but inept efforts to help
Take a kindly interest
A kindly gentleman
An openhearted gift to charity
Dear
Dearly loved
Kind
Having a friendly or generous nature.
He showed his kind heart when he rescued the abandoned kittens.
Dear
With or in a close or intimate relationship;
A good friend
My sisters and brothers are near and dear
Kind
A group with similar characteristics.
This kind of orchid is rare in this region.
Dear
Earnest;
One's dearest wish
Devout wishes for their success
Heartfelt condolences
Kind
Compassionate and caring behavior.
Her kind gesture comforted them during their loss.
Dear
Having a high price;
Costly jewelry
High-priced merchandise
Much too dear for my pocketbook
A pricey restaurant
Dear
With affection;
She loved him dearly
He treats her affectionately
Dear
At a great cost;
He paid dearly for the food
This cost him dear
Dear
Loved or valued very much.
My dear friend, you've always been there for me.
Dear
Used to express surprise or strong emotion.
Oh dear, I don’t know if we’ll make it on time!
Dear
Earnest; heartfelt.
He made a dear promise to always stand by her side.
FAQs
Can "Kind" refer to types of objects?
Yes, "Kind" can categorize things with shared characteristics.
Is "Dear" always affectionate?
Mostly, but it can also denote high cost or be a formal salutation.
Can "Dear" imply something is pricey?
Yes, "Dear" can mean expensive or high in price.
Can "Kind" be a noun?
Yes, as in "a kind of" indicating a type or variety.
Does "Dear" indicate closeness?
Typically, it suggests affection or a close relationship.
Does "Kind" relate to consistent behavior?
Generally, it reflects an individual's habitual benevolence or empathy.
Is "Dear" outdated in correspondence?
It's traditional but still widely used.
Is "Dear" used in professional communication?
Yes, often as a polite salutation in letters.
Is "Kind" used in formal contexts?
It's versatile, fitting for both formal and informal situations.
What's "Dear" in "Dear John letter"?
It's a breakup letter, traditionally sent to a romantic partner.
What's a synonym for "Kind" in generosity?
Benevolent, charitable, or altruistic.
Can "Dear" start a complaint letter?
Yes, it's a common formal address even in complaints.
What makes a "Kind" gesture?
Actions done with genuine concern or empathy.
Can "Dear" express exasperation?
Yes, as in "Oh dear!" it can show surprise or dismay.
Is "Kind" subjective?
Interpretations of what's "kind" can vary by individual.
Can "Kind" describe actions?
Yes, actions showing generosity or thoughtfulness.
Can companies be "Kind"?
They can perform or support acts seen as kind or charitable.
Does "Dear" always show affection?
Mostly, but it can also be polite or indicate value.
Does "Kind" imply softness or weakness?
Not necessarily; it denotes compassion, not lack of strength.
Is "Dear" formal or informal?
It can be both, depending on context.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
