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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cordial different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cordial are affable, genial, gracious, and sociable. While all these words mean "markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse," cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.

our host was cordial as he greeted us

When could affable be used to replace cordial?

The synonyms affable and cordial are sometimes interchangeable, but affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.

though wealthy, she was affable to all

When is genial a more appropriate choice than cordial?

In some situations, the words genial and cordial are roughly equivalent. However, genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.

a genial companion with a ready quip

In what contexts can gracious take the place of cordial?

The words gracious and cordial can be used in similar contexts, but gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.

the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues

When is it sensible to use sociable instead of cordial?

While the synonyms sociable and cordial are close in meaning, sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.

sociable people who enjoy entertaining

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 cordial
Adjective
There was bad news for American whiskey, however, which was down by nearly two percent (more than $5 billion) and cordials (down 3.6 percent). Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2025 This basket includes the treats: chocolate caramel grahams, prosecco cordials, midnight snack mix and gourmet popcorn. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
President Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office on Friday, providing a cordial conclusion to a tumultuous tenure for the billionaire entrepreneur. Arkansas Online, 31 May 2025 The talks, while cordial, still have not permanently de-escalated the trade war, with 30% and 10% baseline tariffs remaining on the American and Chinese sides, respectively. Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cordial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cordial
Adjective
  • Lots of natural light and warm, muted color palettes make your spaces feel comforting and inviting, just like our favorite housekeeper.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
  • Although, the ear pads can get sweaty in warm weather and aren’t user-replaceable.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • The man was gifted, gracious, often generous and seldom mean-spirited.
    Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2025
  • But goodness gracious, the Rockies are only (14-36) under Schaeffer after going 7-33 under Black.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • When the heat of summer kicks in, few things are more refreshing than biting into a slice of fresh fruit, like watermelon and pineapple.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 10 July 2025
  • Switch The Citrus In Your Mojito Recipe Substitute the traditional lime for lemon, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, or a combination of citrus juices for a sweeter variation that’s just as refreshing as the original.
    Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Fresh, fizzy, and just the right amount of bitter, tonic water is the real star of the show—gin needs tonic, not the other way around.
    Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 July 2025
  • In tea form, turmeric and garlic create a soothing, nutrient-rich herbal tonic.
    Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • But if oil prices remain middling, even friendly policies might not compel companies to significantly ramp up drilling.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • Instead of an origin story, Peter is thrown into the stressful situation of navigating high school life, being a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and crushing on the daughter of Michael Keaton's villainous Vulture.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Warm and deeply hospitable, with some of the best food in the world and a flourishing art and design scene, the country's capital is a great place to visit any time.
    Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 July 2025
  • Most people think of Madison as the Wisconsin city most hospitable to cyclists but the state’s largest city is making strides.
    Jessica Van Egeren, jsonline.com, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • The most common classes of antihypertensive drugs are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 8 July 2025
  • If your dry mouth is chronic and/or caused by a Sjogren’s or a side effect of radiation, your doctor may write you a prescription for a drug that increases natural saliva production like pilocarpine (Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac).
    Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • The clinic, which will open in the fall, will provide primary care, gender-affirming medicine, HIV prevention/treatment and mental health services.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
  • This comprehensive framework positions the UK as a global leader in genomic medicine.
    William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cordial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cordial. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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