Synonyms of friendliness

friendliness 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈfren(d)-lē-nəs 

as in friendship

kindly concern, interest, or support

the family was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the welcoming committee

Synonyms & Similar Words

• friendship
• generosity
• cordiality
• neighborliness
• kindness
• goodwill
• kindliness
• amity
• good-fellowship
• benevolence
• brotherhood
• community
• camaraderie
• fellowship
• gemütlichkeit
• harmony
• charity
• bonhomie
• collegiality
• comradeship
• cordialness
• companionship
• tolerance
• civility
• rapport
• empathy
• comity
• sympathy
• rapprochement
• affinity
• concord
• company
• altruism
• unselfishness
• selflessness
• communion
• philanthropy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• malevolence
• hostility
• venom
• intolerance
• hatred
• ill will
• malice
• antagonism
• animosity
• enmity
• hate
• disfavor
• antipathy
• rancor
• incivility
• belligerency
• quarrelsomeness
• querulousness

friendly

2 of 4

adjective

ˈfren(d)-lē 

1

as in warm

having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest

all of the people in my new department seem friendly

as a friendly gesture, we presented our new neighbors with a plate of homemade cookies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• warm
• gracious
• nice
• amicable
• neighborly
• sweet
• merry
• collegial
• cordial
• affectionate
• companionable
• warmhearted
• chummy
• loving
• comradely
• genial
• hospitable
• hearty
• approachable
• hail-fellow-well-met
• good-natured
• familiar
• social
• fraternal
• affable
• matey
• jolly
• jovial
• buddy-buddy
• palsy
• bonhomous
• hail-fellow
• convivial
• outgoing
• sociable
• palsy-walsy
• gregarious
• close
• agreeable
• folksy
• good-tempered
• devoted
• clubby
• adoring
• intimate
• extroverted
• brotherly
• fond
• sisterly
• tenderhearted
• tender
• lovesome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hostile
• unfriendly
• antagonistic
• cool
• cold
• alienated
• icy
• glacial
• aggressive
• frosty
• chilly
• frigid
• belligerent
• wintry
• combative
• contentious
• pugnacious
• argumentative
• quarrelsome
• bellicose
• estranged
• truculent
• inimical
• inhospitable
• unsociable
• cold-blooded
• unsocial
• scrappy
• disputatious

2

as in familiar

closely acquainted

we're friendly with our neighbors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• familiar
• close
• intimate
• chummy
• comfortable
• inseparable
• tight
• bosom
• inward
• especial
• near
• loving
• affectionate
• thick
• gracious
• buddy-buddy
• affable
• convivial
• cordial
• social
• companionable
• dear
• easy
• sociable
• gregarious
• genial
• clannish
• amicable
• neighborly
• cozy
• close-knit
• tight-knit
• warm
• boon
• confidential
• hearty
• secretive
• adoring
• devoted
• fond
• snug
• tenderhearted
• tender

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distant
• unfriendly
• cold
• distant
• withdrawn
• remote
• cool
• aloof
• antisocial
• detached
• frosty
• standoffish
• reserved
• unsociable

3

as in positive

expressing approval

a friendly sign that our pet project would be approved

Synonyms & Similar Words

• positive
• favorable
• good
• appreciative
• complimentary
• supportive
• approving
• commendatory
• warm
• admiring
• respectful
• sympathetic
• accepting
• approbatory
• applauding
• flattering
• laudatory
• praiseful
• eulogistic
• worshipful
• hagiographic
• adoring
• encomiastic
• panegyrical
• advisory
• laudative
• adulatory
• worshipping
• recommendatory
• idolizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfriendly
• negative
• unfavorable
• adverse
• derogatory
• uncomplimentary
• disapproving
• unappreciative
• unflattering
• depreciative
• depreciatory
• inappreciative
• critical
• captious
• hypercritical
• overcritical
• contemptuous
• faultfinding
• scornful
• disdainful
• censuring
• disparaging
• belittling
• carping
• slighting
• caviling

4

as in obliging

willing to do a favor

a kid-friendly restaurant with high chairs and a special menu for small-fry appetites

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obliging
• helpful
• accommodative
• gracious
• accommodating
• indulgent
• thoughtful
• solicitous
• considerate
• permissive
• amenable
• lenient
• complaisant
• agreeable
• overindulgent

5

as in helpful

promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being

the state's attitude towards commercial development is widely regarded as friendly to the business community

Synonyms & Similar Words

• helpful
• beneficial
• favorable
• good
• profitable
• satisfying
• kindly
• advantageous
• beneficent
• desirable
• salutary
• benignant
• supportive
• lucrative
• healthy
• benefic
• rewarding
• promising
• gratifying
• wholesome
• healthful
• propitious
• constructive
• auspicious
• advisable
• salubrious
• gainful
• remunerative
• salutiferous
• ameliorative
• amelioratory
• bettering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfriendly
• bad
• unfavorable
• unhelpful
• unprofitable
• disadvantageous
• harmful
• injurious
• damaging
• deleterious
• insalubrious

friendly

3 of 4

adverb

as in friendlily

Related Words

• friendlily
• amicably
• good-naturedly
• jocularly
• laughingly
• blithely
• breezily
• gladly
• lightheartedly
• good-humoredly
• hopefully
• optimistically
• blithesomely
• sunnily
• exuberantly
• joyously
• joyfully
• sanguinely
• cheerfully
• giddily
• gladsomely
• amusedly
• blissfully
• cheerily
• jovially
• rapturously
• smilingly
• happily
• euphorically
• gigglingly
• merrily
• heartily
• jocosely
• elatedly
• mirthfully
• brightly
• gaily

Dissimilar Words

• heavily
• darkly
• unhappily
• miserably
• bleakly
• morosely
• wretchedly
• abjectly
• sternly
• dejectedly
• mournfully
• disconsolately
• cheerlessly
• sorrowfully
• dolefully
• sourly
• plaintively
• sullenly
• despondently
• sulkily
• forlornly
• dispiritedly
• glumly
• dourly
• dismally
• gloomily
• drearily
• pessimistically
• mirthlessly
• blackly
• dolorously

friendly

4 of 4

noun (2)

as in intimate

Related Words

• familiar
• intimate
• confidant
• friend
• buddy
• pal
• hearty
• partner
• alter ego
• confidante
• chum
• colleague
• compadre
• crony
• associate
• peer
• comrade
• musketeer
• companion
• fellow
• cohort
• amigo
• blood brother
• benefactor
• supporter
• brother
• sport
• sister
• sympathizer
• ally
• mate
• accomplice
• acquaintance
• hobnobber
• main man
• collaborator
• well-wisher
• abettor
• pen pal
• confederate

Dissimilar Words

• enemy
• foe
• adversary
• competitor
• opponent
• rival
• antagonist
• nemesis
• archenemy

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective friendly contrast with its synonyms?

The words amicable and neighborly are common synonyms of friendly. While all three words mean "exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism," friendly stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations.

sought friendly advice

When can amicable be used instead of friendly?

Although the words amicable and friendly have much in common, amicable implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel.

maintained amicable relations

In what contexts can neighborly take the place of friendly?

The words neighborly and friendly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, neighborly implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle.

neighborly concern

How does the adjective friendly contrast with its synonyms?

The words amicable and neighborly are common synonyms of friendly. While all three words mean "exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism," friendly stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations.

sought friendly advice

When can amicable be used instead of friendly?

Although the words amicable and friendly have much in common, amicable implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel.

maintained amicable relations

In what contexts can neighborly take the place of friendly?

The words neighborly and friendly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, neighborly implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle.

neighborly concern

How does the adjective friendly contrast with its synonyms?

The words amicable and neighborly are common synonyms of friendly. While all three words mean "exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism," friendly stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations.

sought friendly advice

When can amicable be used instead of friendly?

Although the words amicable and friendly have much in common, amicable implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel.

maintained amicable relations

In what contexts can neighborly take the place of friendly?

The words neighborly and friendly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, neighborly implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle.

neighborly concern

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of friendliness

Noun

For the eighth year in a row, Finland has topped the list, winning on behalf of its people's notable friendliness, freedom of choice, and high life expectancy. —Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026

Top providers were selected for specific strengths like high coverage caps, budget-friendliness, and the ability to choose your own technician. —Alora Bopray, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Overall the staff is friendly and helpful in accommodating specific needs. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026

Are people in Paris friendly to Americans? —Eve Chen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

Adverb

The couple, parents of two young children, felt something more family friendly fit their lives in 2022. —Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2022

Wednesday had a friendly-looking cloud and a few raindrops, and Thursday had a dark, threatening cloud with heavier drops. —F. Martin Ralph, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2022

Noun

Laryea’s defending was emotionally charged but precise in Canada’s goalless draw against Colombia in an October friendly. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026

As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, Mexico will host Uruguay on Sunday at Estadio Corona in an international friendly. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025