Synonym Chooser

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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of amiable The rest of the walk passes in amiable chatter about nothing in particular. Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 David Remnick, Pulitzer Prize winner and New Yorker editor since 1998, is the documentary’s amiable guide on what is a multi-tiered journey through the magazine’s past and present. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025 Chris Columbus, director of Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films, helms the comedic caper, which follows an amiable gang of gumshoes who spend their golden years investigating cold cases. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025 That would be Britain Covey, an amiable, 5-foot-8 wide receiver and punt returner who’s so diminutive that he’s been denied entry into players’ parking lots in the past and recently was mistaken for a member of the Rams’ front office. Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amiable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amiable
Adjective
  • The comments section quickly sided with the gracious host.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The influencer was gracious about her departure, though.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Brew a pot of dark-roasted coffee to make your kitchen smell pleasant.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of colorful foliage and leaf-peeping, an autumnal escape here means uncrowded beaches, pleasant temperatures in the mid-80s, and a wealth of cultural programming and events, many of which are free.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The sound system isn’t as nice, and the side-view mirrors now have to be manually folded.
    Patrick George, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The gardener was removing excess leaves to give the tree a cleaner look, an attention to detail required at a nice hotel — The Grove — that’s been housing NFL teams since Aaron Glenn, now the New York Jets head coach, was still playing for the New Orleans Saints in 2008.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Amiable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amiable. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on amiable

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