good-natured

adjective

good-na·​tured ˈgu̇d-ˈnā-chərd How to pronounce good-natured (audio)
: of a pleasant and cooperative disposition
good-naturedly adverb
good-naturedness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for good-natured

amiable, good-natured, obliging, complaisant mean having the desire or disposition to please.

amiable implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with.

an amiable teacher not easily annoyed

good-natured implies cheerfulness or helpfulness and sometimes a willingness to be imposed upon.

a good-natured girl who was always willing to pitch in

obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful.

our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room

complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness.

was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair

Examples of good-natured in a Sentence

the guests at the party were a good-natured bunch
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is good-natured laughter and yelling as the kicker retrieves the ball and rolls it back to the pitcher. Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025 And this isn't the only thing that Renner is good-natured about after his accident. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2025 Amid his calls for peace among all the people of the world, social media users across X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and other platforms reacted with some good-natured quips. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 May 2025 While his signature full head of hair sprung back to life after several washings, Swanson expects some residual good-natured ribbing from his Cubs teammates, as the first-place club looks to turn 2025 into its own potentially memorable winning campaign. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for good-natured

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of good-natured was in 1582

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Good-natured.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/good-natured. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

good-natured

adjective
good-na·​tured
ˈgu̇d-ˈnā-chərd
: of a pleasant cheerful disposition
good-naturedly adverb
good-naturedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on good-natured

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