Synonyms of good-natured

good-natured

adjective

ˈgu̇d-ˈnā-chərd 

as in gracious

having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations

the guests at the party were a good-natured bunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gracious
• pleasant
• nice
• amiable
• sweet
• affable
• friendly
• cheerful
• genial
• good-tempered
• agreeable
• delightful
• clever
• mellow
• polite
• kind
• attractive
• gentle
• well-disposed
• thoughtful
• neighborly
• benign
• civil
• amicable
• cordial
• enjoyable
• cheery
• courteous
• considerate
• sociable
• sunny
• likable
• companionable
• conversable
• likeable
• glad
• amenable
• obliging
• accommodating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unpleasant
• disagreeable
• ungracious
• surly
• unkind
• unamiable
• boorish
• rude
• discourteous
• inconsiderate
• irascible
• irritable
• cantankerous
• unsociable
• uncivil
• impolite
• petulant
• unmannerly
• peevish
• grumpy
• snappish
• grouchy
• ill-natured
• churlish
• ill-tempered
• dyspeptic
• touchy
• bilious
• cranky
• ungenial
• choleric
• testy
• contrary
• fussy
• ornery
• crabby
• querulous
• contentious
• argumentative
• ill-mannered
• bearish
• unattractive
• ill-humored
• sour
• quick-tempered
• unappealing
• vinegary

Synonym Chooser

How is the word good-natured distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of good-natured are amiable, complaisant, and obliging. While all these words mean "having the desire or disposition to please," good-natured implies cheerfulness or helpfulness and sometimes a willingness to be imposed upon.

a good-natured girl who was always willing to pitch in

Where would amiable be a reasonable alternative to good-natured?

The synonyms amiable and good-natured are sometimes interchangeable, but amiable implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with.

an amiable teacher not easily annoyed

When could complaisant be used to replace good-natured?

The meanings of complaisant and good-natured largely overlap; however, complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness.

was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair

When can obliging be used instead of good-natured?

The words obliging and good-natured can be used in similar contexts, but obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful.

our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of good-natured

Federer and Nadal were on opposite sides of the net for what was generally a good-natured hit up until that point. —Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

Hampton is relentlessly upbeat and Oyelowo plays him as a man who’s simply content to be caught up in God’s destiny for him, anchoring the show’s tone as generally good-natured but never emotionally compelling. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025

In this fizzy comedy, Hit Man breakout Adria Arjona asks for a divorce from her good-natured husband (Kyle Marvin), prompting him to turn to his friends (Dakota Johnson and Michael Angelo Covino, also the film’s director) for support. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2025

Since then, Davis, a good-natured golden retriever, has become a fixture at Indian Trails Elementary School in Frankfort. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025