amicable

am·i·ca·ble

adj \ˈa-mi-kə-bəl\

Definition of AMICABLE

: characterized by friendly goodwill : peaceable

— am·i·ca·bil·i·ty \ˌa-mi-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— am·i·ca·ble·ness \ˈa-mi-kə-bəl-nəs\ noun

— am·i·ca·bly \-blē\ adverb

Examples of AMICABLE

1. They reached an amicable agreement.
2. <the contract negotiations between the hotel workers and management were reasonably amicable>
3. About a million couples divorce each year in the United States, and most, like my ex and me, start out striving to keep the split amicable. And though you may have good intentions, things can go awry during the traditional I-win-you-lose adversarial process. —Annie Finnigan, Family Circle, 17 Oct. 2008
4. Instead, with the help of a neighborhood activist, Rob struck out in another direction. He retook his old turf from the dealers who had replaced him and opened a fruit stand and, later, a hot-dog concession. Bright, amicable and assured, Rob so impressed Anderson that the sociologist hired him as a part-time assistant. —Ellis Cose, Newsweek, 30 Aug. 1999
5. Cops such as William Anderson and Lowell Powell had been Sonny's friends. “I was a policeman and he was something of a thug,” Powell recalled, but nonetheless their dealings were amicable. In the big picture, however, there was no love lost between Sonny and the cops. —Nick Tosches, Vanity Fair, February 1998

Origin of AMICABLE

Middle English, from Late Latin amicabilis (see amiable)

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to AMICABLE

Synonyms: agreeable, harmonious, compatible, congenial, frictionless, kindred, unanimous, united

Antonyms: disagreeable, discordant, disharmonious, disunited, incompatible, inharmonious, uncongenial

Related Words: pacific, peaceable, peaceful; collaborating, cooperative, symbiotic, synergetic, synergic; noncompetitive, nonconflicting, uncompetitive; sympathetic, tolerant, understanding; affable, amiable, cordial, friendly, genial, neighborly

Near Antonyms: antagonistic, antipathetic, clashing, conflicting, hostile, inimical, unfriendly; belligerent, contentious, quarrelsome; contradicting, contradictory, contrary, opposing, opposite; competing, competitive, rivaling (or rivalling)

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Synonym Discussion of AMICABLE

amicable, neighborly, friendly mean exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism. amicable implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel <maintained amicable relations>. neighborly implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle <neighborly concern>. friendly stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations <sought friendly advice>.