1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sociable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of sociable are affable, cordial, genial, and gracious. While all these words mean "markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse," sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.

sociable people who enjoy entertaining

In what contexts can affable take the place of sociable?

Although the words affable and sociable have much in common, affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.

though wealthy, she was affable to all

When could cordial be used to replace sociable?

While in some cases nearly identical to sociable, cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.

our host was cordial as he greeted us

Where would genial be a reasonable alternative to sociable?

In some situations, the words genial and sociable are roughly equivalent. However, genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.

a genial companion with a ready quip

When is gracious a more appropriate choice than sociable?

While the synonyms gracious and sociable are close in meaning, gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.

the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues

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 sociable Puppy schools serve a dual purpose: fostering confident and sociable behaviors in young dogs and enhancing the bond between pet and owner through structured learning experiences. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 Small dogs proved to be less sociable than medium and large breeds. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 Adrien is very engaged in the moment and is able to switch over and be sociable and talkative. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 5 Feb. 2025 Thanks to their kind and sociable nature, dogs can get along with most other animals, however, some breeds are better suited for having inter-species friendships than others. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sociable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sociable
Adjective
  • Lindsay first joined the city of Aurora alongside outgoing Mayor Richard Irvin when he was first elected in 2017.
    R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
  • The story starts in 1908, when outgoing President Theodore Roosevelt handpicked a successor, the lawyerly Taft.
    Amity Shlaes, National Review, 8 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
  • The building includes a 24-hour concierge and a gracious lobby with a residents’ lounge.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Since the ’60s, ’70s, there’s been a lot of interest in social history.
    Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025
  • More Than a Hotel Stay There’s no bad time to go see for yourself; November through April is Palm Beach’s busy social season, while summer is a quieter (and hotter) time to visit.
    Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Those proteins—called effectors—attack specific targets that collectively disable the host's defense responses and make the host more hospitable for its bacterial conqueror.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025
  • There must be a penalty until the campus is shown to be hospitable to Jewish students.
    Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • During public remarks in 2022, Justice Elena Kagan – one of the court’s three liberal justices − spoke out against sweeping injunctions and the ability of challengers to find one friendly judge to issue such an order.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 12 May 2025
  • Hussain has a friendly, reassuring presence, making the already-simple recipes even less intimidating.
    Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sociable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sociable. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sociable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!