Synonyms of friendly

friendly 1 of 3

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
• extraverted
• brotherly
• fond
• sisterly
• tenderhearted
• tender
• lovesome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hostile
• unfriendly
• antagonistic
• cool
• cold
• alienated
• icy
• glacial
• aggressive
• frosty
• chilly
• frigid
• belligerent
• wintry
• combative
• pugnacious
• contentious
• unsocial
• argumentative
• estranged
• bellicose
• quarrelsome
• truculent
• inimical
• inhospitable
• scrappy
• cold-blooded
• unsociable
• wintery
• 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• withdrawn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
• supportive
• complimentary
• approving
• commendatory
• warm
• admiring
• respectful
• sympathetic
• accepting
• approbatory
• applauding
• flattering
• laudatory
• praiseful
• eulogistic
• worshipful
• hagiographical
• hagiographic
• adoring
• encomiastic
• panegyrical
• advisory
• laudative
• adulatory
• worshipping
• recommendatory
• worshiping
• 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
• cavilling
• 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

2 of 3

adverb

as in friendlily

Synonyms & Similar 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
• gayly
• euphorically
• gigglingly
• merrily
• heartily
• jocosely
• elatedly
• mirthfully
• brightly
• gaily

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• 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

3 of 3

noun

as in intimate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• 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

Example Sentences

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