friendliness 1 of 4

friendly

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adjective

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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

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friendly

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adverb

friendly

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noun (2)

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

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 friendly
Noun
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 Midtown offices offers an excellent view — especially of the giant purple robot and friendly-looking hot dog that are waving from behind skyscrapers. Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 28 July 2022
Adjective
And the less said about how this team looked against Turkey and Switzerland in two pre-Gold Cup friendlies, which extended its losing streak under Pochettino to four matches, the better. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 And Nichelle Prince will represent Canada in a series of friendlies. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2025
Adverb
Now able to delegate most responsibilities to her staff, Trish credits her business’ growth and longevity to friendliness and empathy. Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, and he was returned to the shelter because his owners couldn't manage his energy and friendliness. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Noun
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 A week filled with fun videos of puppies trying to master the stairs and a friendly doggy neighbor making his rounds brightened our social media timelines, but a few of our readers' pet videos and pictures stood out. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for friendly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friendly
Adjective
  • Although, the ear pads can get sweaty in warm weather and aren’t user-replaceable.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • The Blackpink superstar joined the F1 soundtrack, which is packed with familiar musicians across a variety of genres.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • The Emmy Awards category for best talk series shrank by one nominee this year — but the three shows up for the award are familiar veterans of the race.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Among Republicans, the gap is a 19% positive to a 43% negative.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 9 July 2025
  • The influx of capital is a net positive, fueling innovation and scaling operations.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • To date, more than 11,000 TikTok users have commented on the post, with many voicing their comedic takes on the viral moment and the cat's obliging demeanor.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • Related Articles Until now exhibitions culminated in Saint Laurent’s studio on the upper floor of the museum, obliging visitors to backtrack toward the exit.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Ask students what information the map is giving them and for whom that information is helpful.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 July 2025
  • The former are helpful metrics to summarize on an Activities List in their college applications, while the latter can serve as inspiration for their personal and supplemental essays.
    Christopher Rim, 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
  • But a closer read shows the linguistic dance that big companies are engaged in.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 10 July 2025
  • Typically, the ring bearer is a young boy or girl and is either the couple’s own child, a relative, or a close family friend.
    Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • In 2019, 52% of Mainers had a favorable impression of Collins, according to Morning Consult polling.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 9 July 2025
  • This is driven by the ongoing market share gains from its FreeStyle Libre platform and the favorable effects of recent product launches, including Lingo, TriClip, and i-STAT.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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