AMIABLE Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'amiable' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of amiable are complaisant , good-natured , and obliging . While all these words 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

Q: When is 'complaisant' a more appropriate choice than 'amiable'?

The words complaisant and amiable can be used in similar contexts, but complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness. // was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair

Q: Where would 'good-natured' be a reasonable alternative to 'amiable'?

While the synonyms good-natured and amiable are close in meaning, 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

Q: When could 'obliging' be used to replace 'amiable'?

The synonyms obliging and amiable are sometimes interchangeable, but obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful. // our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room

amiable

adjective

ˈā-mē-ə-bəl

Definition of amiable next

as in gracious

having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations the owner of the inn is an amiable, talkative widow who treats guests like family

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How is the word amiable distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of amiable are complaisant, good-natured, and obliging. While all these words 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

When is complaisant a more appropriate choice than amiable?

The words complaisant and amiable can be used in similar contexts, but complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness.

was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair

Where would good-natured be a reasonable alternative to amiable?

While the synonyms good-natured and amiable are close in meaning, 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

When could obliging be used to replace amiable?

The synonyms obliging and amiable are sometimes interchangeable, but obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful.

our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room

Examples of amiable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Alessandro Da Fonseca was an amiable guy in his twenties who’d recently emigrated from a shantytown district of Rio de Janeiro. —

Lauren Smiley, WIRED, 10 July 2024 Not for the families of the victims, or for the victimized, the still wary community of a once amiable Idaho college town. —

Howard Blum, Washington Post, 26 June 2024 As our heroine’s sleuthing exposes more and more dirt, her few reliable allies include amiable local stoner Mikey (Gabriel Basso) and quick-witted Special Forces colleague Spider (Tone Bell). —

Dennis Harvey, Variety, 21 June 2024 Be on the lookout for any shady behavior or gossiping that might throw off the amiable dynamic! —

Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for amiable

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amiable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.