harmonious
Americanadjective
-
marked by agreement in feeling, attitude, or action.
a harmonious group.
- Synonyms:
- sympathetic, congenial, amicable
- Antonyms:
- discordant
-
forming a pleasingly consistent whole; congruous.
harmonious colors.
- Synonyms:
- consistent, consonant, congruent, concordant
-
pleasant to the ear; tuneful; melodious.
- Antonyms:
- discordant
adjective
-
(esp of colours or sounds) fitting together well
-
having agreement or consensus
-
tuneful, consonant, or melodious
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of harmonious
First recorded in 1520–30, harmonious is from the Greek word harmónios melodious, literally, fitting. See harmony, -ous
Explanation
Things that are harmonious go together nicely, like notes in music or people that work well as a team. The idea of things being harmonious comes from music — when certain notes sound good together, they are harmonious. But this concept applies to many other things and people, too. You could say pieces of art that look good next to each other are harmonious. A basketball team that shares the ball and gets along well is harmonious. Anytime people get along, they're being harmonious. In a totally harmonious society, there would be no war or hate.
Vocabulary lists containing harmonious
Tuesdays with Morrie
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Black Like Me
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Novel Study: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mansfield was “fascinated” by Gurdjieff’s ideas, according to Ms. Kimber; when she died, she was at the Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man in Fontainebleau, outside Paris.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026
Right now, he has two house mates, a rooster, three chickens and a cat in a community he calls "The Tribe of the Harmonious Walnuts".
From Reuters • Dec. 22, 2022
More than 30 artists are giving a snapshot of current Chinese art with an exhibition across six venues under the title Harmonious Society, part of Manchester's Asian art triennial.
From BBC • Sep. 26, 2014
Harmonious social interactions never made for good television anyway.
From Slate • Sep. 10, 2014
“Would you mind Handel for a familiar name? There’s a charming piece of music by Handel, called the Harmonious Blacksmith.”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
