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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
Outside, life bustles with the familiar sounds of rickshaws and friendly neighborhood chatter. Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 Trump remarked on the friendly reception he's gotten from many in the billionaire class, including Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, during his second term. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
Adverb
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
Noun
Nearly eight months after the U.S. defeated Brazil in the Summer Olympics gold-medal game in Paris, the teams will go head-to-head with the two upcoming friendlies in California on April 5 and April 8. Jessica Golden, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025 Brazil stuttered in subsequent friendlies, were deeply unimpressive at the Copa America and have only shown fleeting signs of improvement since. Jack Lang, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for friendly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friendly
Adjective
  • Hollywood’s obsession with IP and sequels certainly hasn’t gone away, and the upcoming warm months will feature a number of remakes that nobody really asked for.
    Ben Rosenstock, Time, 16 May 2025
  • Soak your grates in a mixture of warm water and vinegar.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Some of this uncertainty is coming from familiar sources, and some from new developments.
    Amanda Tickel, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • With three birdies also added on the card, Scheffler walked into the clubhouse with a familiar position on the leaderboard at a major.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Margaret had a very positive reaction to my suggestion that Harold Pinter would be the ideal screenwriter.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
  • This is what the SAP Business Suite offers. SAP Business Data Cloud Klein and Alam also emphasized the importance of the launch of SAP Business Data Cloud in February and its positive reception from customers and partners.
    Paul Taylor, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • To be sure, China may never become the kind of country many Western optimists imagined in the early post–Cold War decades: a gradually more liberal and obliging member of the U.S.-led international order.
    RANA MITTER, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Tips for Making Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Keep these helpful tips in mind when making homemade strawberry shortcakes.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
  • Valuation, famously, isn’t a helpful tactical input and multiples rarely come under severe attack when the Fed isn’t tightening, or recession isn’t nigh.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Having spent years growing global brand revenue across fast-growing start-ups and a few U.S. Fortune 500 companies at leading advertising firms, Cherubini joined the premium intimates label with a vast knowledge for executing strong consumer-centric strategies.
    Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Retailers, including intimates brand Bare Necessities, mattress maker Saatva and furniture retail Raymour & Flanigan, have used the tariff disruption as a way to encourage customers to buy now.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • Perry was also quite gracious when another fan in the crowd handed her an album to sign.
    Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025
  • And yet when people need a portal into or proxy for spiritual awakening, Alice Coltrane’s music often becomes integral, a newfound household name, because her staggered textures are gracious enough to accommodate both the ascetic and the philistine.
    Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Among the close friends and family celebrating were Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • After the close, discount retailer Miniso Group (9896 HK, MSO US) missed Q1 estimates while online travel agency Tongcheng (780 HK) beat analyst expectations for Q1.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Friendly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friendly. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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