congenial

adjective con·ge·nial \ kən-ˈjē-nē-əl , -ˈjēn-yəl \

|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Examples: congenial in a Sentence

Editor's Note: The History of congenial is Spiritual

Definition of congenial

1 a : pleasant; especially : agreeably suited to one's nature, tastes, or outlook

a congenial atmosphere

b : sociable, genial

a congenial host

c : existing or associated together harmoniously

2 : having the same nature, disposition, or tastes : kindred

congenial companions

—

congeniality

play \kən-ˌjē-nē-ˈa-lə-tē, -ˌjēn-ˈya-\ noun

—

congenially

play \kən-ˈjē-nē-ə-lē, -ˈjēn-yə-\ adverb

See congenial defined for English-language learners

See congenial defined for kids

congenial was our Word of the Day on 02/22/2011. Hear the podcast!

Examples of congenial in a Sentence

She moved on, leaving behind the world of politics for the more congenial sphere of the arts. —Amy Fine Collins, Vanity Fair, March 2001
Jackson may walk up to home plate with the cool strut of a superstar, but off the field he is warm and congenial. —Peter Gammons, Sports Illustrated, 12 June 1989
It turned out to be, for me, one of the most congenial and, in a way, lustrous gatherings that I have ever had in the White House. —Lady Bird Johnson 4 May 1965, in A White House Diary, 1970
The town is a congenial place for raising children.
We studied in the congenial atmosphere of the library.
He found the work to be congenial.
She was congenial and easygoing.

Recent Examples of congenial from the Web

Hewlett achieved notoriety’s more congenial cousin, fame, carving out for himself the best career a black attorney could hope for in 19th-century Washington.

— john kelly, Washington Post, "D.C. law said African Americans could eat anywhere. The reality was different.," 13 Feb. 2018
Eighty-year-old Stelios Spiliadis, proud Greek-American and civic-minded Baltimorean, philosopher, acclaimed restaurateur and congenial raconteur, was angry.

— dan rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "Rodricks: This restaurateur has something for the man who stole from him: a job," 2 June 2018
Basically, Haspel is someone senators genuinely respect, a career spy who has steadily climbed the ranks while maintaining a congenial relationship with Congress.

— amber phillips, Washington Post, "Four takeaways from Gina Haspel’s confrontational CIA confirmation hearing," 9 May 2018
Basically, Haspel is someone senators genuinely respect, a career spy who has steadily climbed the ranks while maintaining a congenial relationship with Congress.

— amber phillips, chicagotribune.com, "Four takeaways from Gina Haspel's confrontational CIA confirmation hearing," 9 May 2018
Most congenial That was his only somewhat unpleasant experience he's had, Hann saod.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "An Uber in Greendale? This driver's been giving rides for 127 days and counting," 15 May 2018
Senator Akaka developed a reputation as a congenial legislator who made many friends while making few waves in pressing the interests of the 50th state.

— caleb jones, BostonGlobe.com, "Daniel Akaka, 93, first native Hawaiian elected to Congress," 7 Apr. 2018
The congenial Brown clearly loves the results of his work-in-progress.

— laurencia ciprus, courant.com, "A B&B In Belltown: Bevin House Buyer Planned A Quick Flip, Then Fell In Love With It," 18 May 2018
The congenial chefs work in an open kitchen surrounded by bar seating.

— yoshina okamoto, Anchorage Daily News, "Get out on the town and explore the nightlife in Anchorage," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'congenial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The History of congenial is Spiritual

According to ancient Roman and Greek mythology, each person at birth was assigned a guardian spirit. The Latin name for this attendant spirit was genius. Two people who get along well together can be thought of as sharing a similar spirit; they might even be described by a word combining the Latin prefix com- (meaning "with, together") and genius. And, indeed, it was this com-genius combination that gave rise in the 17th century to the English word congenial. (The Greek word for the guardian spirit, daimōn, gave us eudaemonia, meaning "well-being" or "happiness," but that word is extremely rare.)