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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

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
Adjective
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
Adverb
Their youth has put together an impressive run of international friendlies this summer, led by Miami’s Simone Fontecchio in wins over Latvia and Argentina. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025 The Villarreal friendly offered a glimpse of both the potential and the challenge. Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Beer- and kid-friendly Opening this weekend on the Boise Bench, Chits & Chats essentially is part restaurant, part pub, part neighborhood public house — with a library of games for rent. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025 First, on Sunday September 14, there will be a free, family-friendly concert and festival at the corner of 2nd Ave and Beale St. Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for friendly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friendly
Adjective
  • While this is only slightly warmer than what is normal for mid-September for the Gulf Coast, this is 10 to 15 degrees warmer than what is normal for this time of the year for much of the Mississippi Valley -- including for parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and Minnesota.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Great Britain’s winning performance from Friday’s four races, held in bright sunshine and warm gusty breeze, earned driver Dylan Fletcher and his team their second victory of the season.
    Andrew Rice, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • On the other side of the equation, the Chiefs’ receiving corps has looked eerily familiar.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The inertia of familiar patterns keeps people locked into old routines.
    Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Chelsea have also provided necessary cover for Marc Cucurella by acquiring Jorrel Hato from Ajax, and believe attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte can make a positive contribution following his loan move from Brighton & Hove Albion.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Ava Cavallini, 12th grade, Stewart County High School Ava has served as a positive role model to all underclassmen through her time in Career and Technical Education at Stewart County High School.
    Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Mister is by nature a friendly doggie who is always sweet and obliging when strangers want to pet him.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • The Tennessean's Student of the Week is all about helpful upperclassmen this week.
    Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Granovetter found that a person’s casual or loose connections (weak ties) are more helpful than their strong ties.
    Carmine Gallo, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Prior to joining Madewell, Lazarus was co-CEO of Cuup, a direct-to-consumer intimates brand, and a senior adviser at McKinsey & Company, counseling retail and apparel clients.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Rather than embellishing her $68 bloomers with the ruffles and frills of 19th-century French intimates, Hourston leans into casual prints and patterns to distinguish her bloomers.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Percussion and a choir imbued the ballad with a pulse, and the gracious Warren quickly turned to clap for the singers at song’s end.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The 63-year-old chef helms the kitchen at Vila Joya—the restaurant of a gracious boutique hotel in Portugal that shares its name—which earned one Michelin star in 1995 and a second in 1999.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Looking back at Charlotte’s recent FCS opponents, dating back to 2021, the 49ers haven’t won the turnover battle in any of the four matchups, resulting in uncomfortably close games and even a lopsided loss to William & Mary in 2022.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • As Vevo’s Senior Manager of Talent Booking, Cynthia Todd emphasized the close partnership and trust that goes into making opportunities like these special performances come together in Live From Vevo Studios.
    Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Friendly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friendly. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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