congenial

[kuhn-jeen-yuhl]

adjective

1. agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character.

   congenial surroundings.

   Synonyms: united, sympathetic, kindred, harmonious, complaisant, pleasing, pleasant, pleasant, favorable, enjoyable, agreeable
   Antonyms: disagreeable

2. suited or adapted in spirit, feeling, temper, etc.; compatible.

   a congenial couple.

congenial

/ kənˈdʒiːnjəl, -nɪəl, kənˌdʒiːnɪˈælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. friendly, pleasant, or agreeable

   a congenial atmosphere to work in

2. having a similar disposition, tastes, etc; compatible; sympathetic

Other Word Forms

• congeniality noun
• congenialness noun
• congenially adverb
• precongenial adjective
• quasi-congenial adjective
• quasi-congenially adverb
• uncongenial adjective
• uncongenially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of congenial¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin con- con- + geni(us) genius + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of congenial¹

C17: from _con- (same) + _genial ¹

Example Sentences

The congenial thumping of the wolf’s tail against the stone floor echoed in hidden caverns far below.

Read more on Literature

He’d been a more than congenial host, showing this writer around the cavernous space where a group of what looked like teenagers with laptops were composing the landscapes of the film’s fictional world Pandora.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Despite the challenges, the mood at the awards show was congenial, with attendees shouting out to one another on stage, in the lobby and from their cars as they pulled into the parking lot.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sir John said the world was changing and "may not be reshaping in a way that is congenial to the West".

Read more on BBC

He will become our congenial, riotous, seductive, wise guide throughout.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affable 
• agreeable 
• convivial 
• cordial 
• favorable 
• genial 
• gracious 
• harmonious 
• jovial 
• mellow 
• pleasant 
• pleasing 
• sociable 
• sympathetic 

When To Use

What does congenial mean?

Congenial means friendly, pleasant, or agreeable. Someone who’s congenial is easy to get along with.It’s especially used to describe people and their personalities, but it can also describe atmospheres marked by friendliness, as in a congenial workplace.The noun congeniality refers to the quality of being congenial.Less commonly, congenial can mean well suited or well matched, as in It’s a very congenial friendship—they share several interests. The word compatible is a close synonym of this sense of congenial.Example: You won’t find a more congenial person than Jess—she has a kind word for everyone she meets.