mellow

mellow

adjective

Definition of MELLOW

1

having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music <the mellow tones of an old violin>

Synonyms euphonious, lyrical, mellifluent, mellifluous, mellow, melodic, melodious, musical

Related Words dulcet, golden, sweet

Near Antonyms disconnected, staccato; discordant, dissonant, grating, harsh, inharmonious, jarring, strident, unmelodious, unmusical

Antonyms unlyrical

2

not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect <a teacher with a mellow approach to classroom discipline> <mellow soaps>

Synonyms balmy, benign, bland, delicate, light, mellow, mild, nonabrasive, soft, soothing, tender

Related Words calm, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil; clement, compassionate, easy, lenient, merciful; buffering, cushioning, emollient, softening; sleek, slick, smooth

Near Antonyms exquisite, fierce, intense, powerful, severe; forceful, forcible, savage, violent; roughened, rugged, strong; abrading, irritating, roughening; grim, gruff, rude, stiff; heavy-handed, oppressive, pitiless, tyrannical (also tyrannic)

Antonyms abrasive, caustic, coarse, hard, harsh, rough, scathing, stern, ungentle

3

having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations <mellow and unflappable, the office manager greatly contributes to the work environment>

Synonyms affable, agreeable, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, mellow, nice, pleasant, sweet, well-disposed

Related Words amicable, clever [dialect], cordial, friendly, neighborly; benign, gentle, kind; cheerful, cheery, glad [archaic], sunny; companionable, conversable, sociable; civil, considerate, courteous, polite, thoughtful; accommodating, amenable, obliging; attractive, delightful, enjoyable, likable (or likeable)

Near Antonyms boorish, discourteous, ill-mannered, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, surly, uncivil, unkind, unmannerly, unsociable; bearish, bilious, cantankerous, choleric, churlish, crabby, cranky, dyspeptic, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, ill-humored, irascible, irritable, peevish, petulant, quick-tempered, snappish, testy, touchy; argumentative, contentious, contrary, ornery, querulous; unappealing, unattractive; sour, vinegary

Antonyms disagreeable, ill-natured, ill-tempered, unamiable, ungenial, ungracious, unpleasant

4

having a relaxed, casual manner <she's rather high-strung, and her boyfriend is mellow, so they counterbalance each other nicely>

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

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

Antonyms high-strung, uptight