GOOD-NATUREDLY Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

good-naturedly

adverb

Definition of good-naturedly

as in amiably

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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 good-naturedly Rodriguez, who is focused on his fragrance business, said good-naturedly. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026 Some of the best scenes are just Owen, Joe, and Terry sharing a meal at their favorite diner, talking openly—and good-naturedly busting each other’s chops—about whatever happens to be going on in their lives. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Sigmund, the artistic director of Stillwater’s Zephyr Theatre, joked good-naturedly. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026 Regardless, everyone approves of Kiana, with Zack good-naturedly parodying her sunglasses and the girls encouraging him to lock it down despite the tumultuous relationships their friend group seems to attract. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 May 2026 Australian screen and stage veteran Kate Fitzpatrick plays Becky, a feisty grandmother whose role is so familiar that her banter with geeky Matt across the aisle (Richard Croughley) will later include him good-naturedly dropping a Shelley Winters reference. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026 Evgeni Malkin was good-naturedly jabbing the media for asking about his future in Pittsburgh. — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 McCartney good-naturedly acknowledged the seating arrangement. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2026 Before the game, Wood good-naturedly chatted it up with fans of Montana, which annually travels well. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for good-naturedly

Adverb

Maud Ogilvie smiled amiably at Flynn, as if waiting for a challenge.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
One recent evening, the horror director Oren Peli stopped by one such boozer, in an alleyway off the Strand, looked around amiably, and ordered a Coke.

— Anna Russell, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of amiably

Adverb

The character cheerfully insisted that Scotch whisky, the Garden of Eden, and most other worthwhile inventions had originated in his homeland.

— Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
Moments after sitting down at an outdoor table, Oppenheim breathes in the ocean air and starts cheerfully free-associating.

— Alex Barasch, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of cheerfully

Adverb

Part of what fueled the ups and downs was the sense that Paul Baker is genially open to whatever life might throw at him — a personality type engineered to drive the acting-out Issa and the neurotic Anton to distraction.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Waiting to address the group, Larson genially reminisced with a retiree, Joe Suggs, one of his opponents in 1998.

— Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026

Definition of genially

Adverb

And Rob Sand, the affably idiosyncratic state auditor who didn’t have a challenger, is officially up for governor.

— Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Which means right about now, the island is buzzing with thousands of MAMILs (middle aged men in lycra) and affably amateur Brits are arriving by the planeload.

— Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026

Definition of affably

Adverb

Your server, wearing a conductor’s hat, cheerily shakes them up in front of you.

— Lisa Shames, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
In 2016, Brexiteers imagined that other European countries would follow their example and cheerily recover absolute sovereignty as liberated nation-states.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of cheerily

Adverb

Aneha sashays away, all the way down the paved road and back to the lobby, while Cam cleans up her mess, graciously thanking everyone for taking the time to come out and support them.

— Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
The lovely, economic scenic design by Angela Balogh Calin graciously makes room for the play’s wall-to-wall witticisms, but the house is meant to symbolize the ship of state drifting dangerously toward the rocks.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of graciously

Adverb

Cushionaire Topcat Sneakers Continuing her suede streak, my mom sent me the link to these retro-feeling sneakers that would pair sweetly with anything from wide-leg jeans to a sundress.

— Annie Blackman, InStyle, 24 Oct. 2026
Rather, it was sweetly personalized and penned with love, signed by his Travis, 37, along with a sweet note written in the whites of the numbers printed on the front of the red shirt, as seen in an Instagram photo shared by New Heights.

— Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of sweetly

Browse Nearby Words

good-natured

good-naturedly

good-naturedness

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“Good-naturedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/good-naturedly. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of good-naturedly

adverb

Example Sentences

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