affable

af·fa·ble

adj \ˈa-fə-bəl\

Definition of AFFABLE

1

: being pleasant and at easein talking to others <an affable host>

2

: characterized by ease and friendliness <an affable manner>

— af·fa·bil·i·ty \ˌa-fə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— af·fa·bly \-blē\ adverb

Examples of AFFABLE

1. a lively, affable young fellow
2. <as the show's affable host, she keeps the freewheeling gabfest from getting out of hand>
3. Bertie's a bright, affable fellow, but every little success he has feels cheapened in comparison with his dad's overpowering accomplishments. —Lev Grossman, Time, 7 Feb. 2005
4. In repose, he can be affable and quite funny. But woe betide anyone who crosses him or who fails to perform to his demanding standards. —Anthony Bianco et al., Business Week, 9 Sept. 2002
5. The owner emerged from a galley kitchen … to explain that the restaurant was supposed to be closed. This roly-poly man with graying locks above a noble, high forehead was affable and articulate, not your average short-order cook. —John Krich, San Francisco Examiner, 21 Aug. 1994

Origin of AFFABLE

Middle English affabyl, from Anglo-French, from Latin affabilis, from affari to speak to, from ad- + fari to speak — more at ban

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to AFFABLE

Synonyms: easygoing, breezy, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, low-pressure, mellow

Antonyms: high-strung, uptight

Related Words: carefree, casual, dégagé, lackadaisical, nonchalant, unaffected, unconcerned, unfussy, unperturbed, untroubled, unworried; familiar, homey (also homy), informal; flexible, lax, lenient, permissive, pliable, pliant, soft; accessible, approachable; imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable; amicable, companionable, comradely, cordial, genial, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, neighborly, warm, warmhearted

Near Antonyms: ceremonious, decorous, formal, rigid, strict; anxious, bothered, distressed, worried; jittery, jumpy, nervous, skittish, tense

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See Synonym Discussion at gracious

Rhymes with AFFABLE

laughable