Synonyms of goodwill

goodwill

noun

ˌgu̇d-ˈwil 

1

as in friendship

kindly concern, interest, or support

the long tradition of goodwill that exists between the United States and Canada

Synonyms & Similar Words

• friendship
• generosity
• friendliness
• cordiality
• neighborliness
• benevolence
• kindness
• amity
• good-fellowship
• brotherhood
• kindliness
• charity
• community
• fellowship
• harmony
• bonhomie
• camaraderie
• cordialness
• companionship
• gemütlichkeit
• comradeship
• collegiality
• tolerance
• sympathy
• rapport
• empathy
• comity
• civility
• rapprochement
• concord
• company
• affinity
• communion
• altruism
• selflessness
• unselfishness
• philanthropy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• malevolence
• venom
• hatred
• hostility
• ill will
• intolerance
• malice
• antagonism
• animosity
• enmity
• hate
• antipathy
• disfavor
• rancor
• belligerency
• incivility
• quarrelsomeness
• querulousness

2

as in willingness

cheerful readiness to do something

took on the task of coaching the soccer team with lots of zeal and goodwill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• willingness
• enthusiasm
• alacrity
• amenability
• zeal
• obligingness
• gameness
• speed
• celerity
• warmth
• promptness
• eagerness
• quickness
• exuberance
• rapidity
• swiftness
• responsiveness
• geniality
• zest
• fervor
• promptitude
• speediness
• agreeableness
• gusto
• heartiness
• receptivity
• dispatch
• receptiveness
• relish
• ardor
• avidity
• good-naturedness
• keenness
• open-mindedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• slowness
• uncertainty
• sluggishness
• doubt
• apathy
• disinterestedness
• delay
• reticence
• reluctance
• hesitation
• lukewarmness
• reservation
• resistance
• leisureliness
• hesitancy
• vacillation
• dilatoriness
• unwillingness
• pokiness
• equivocation
• halfheartedness
• hesitance
• recalcitrance
• perfunctoriness
• antipathy
• indisposition
• disinclination
• aversion
• averseness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of goodwill

That was later cleaned up by a waste management company with ties to the original company, as a gesture of goodwill during the new company’s bid for a lucrative New York City contract. — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 1, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Sep. 2026

Some of that goodwill came simply from contrast with Hegseth, according to officials familiar with the dynamics. — Luis Martinez, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Benevolence beliefs can be understood as feeling that someone has goodwill toward you and cares about your well-being. — John C. Besley, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

DeBoer briefly regained some goodwill by beating Oklahoma to open the College Football Playoffs after a 28-3 drubbing by Georgia in the SEC Championship. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026