congenial

[kuhn-jeen-yuhl]

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adjective

agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character: congenial surroundings.

suited or adapted in spirit, feeling, temper, etc.; compatible: a congenial couple.

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Nearby words

Origin of congenial

1615–25; < Latin con- con- + geni(us) genius + -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR congenial

1. favorable, pleasant, complaisant, sympathetic.

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ANTONYMS FOR congenial

1, 2. disagreeable.

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Related forms

con·ge·ni·al·i·ty

[kuhn-jee-nee-al-i-tee] /kənˌdʒi niˈæl ɪ ti/, con·gen·ial·ness, nouncon·gen·ial·ly, adverbpre·con·gen·ial, adjectivequa·si-con·gen·ial, adjective

qua·si-con·gen·ial·ly, adverbun·con·gen·ial, adjectiveun·con·gen·ial·ly, adverbun·con·ge·ni·al·i·ty, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for congenial

She herself represents a congenial mingling of English and Scottish blood.
Queen Victoria’s Secret Scottish Sex Castle|Clive Irving|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Initially, the congenial Enzi seemed to be blindsided by the Cheneys.
Mike Enzi Takes on Liz Cheney|Sandra McElwaine|October 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
America needs a strategy to adapt to the faltering strength of its most important and congenial allies.
America's European Allies Drop the Ball|David Frum|May 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
All the congenial things the three Democratic presidents said are true.
Bush’s Legacy, Obama’s Choice|Michael Tomasky|April 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST

That last round was congenial, like a group hug on American Idol.
GOP Iowa Debate: Daily Beast Contributors Grade the Candidates|The Daily Beast|December 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
You must really excuse me, as I fear I should be scarcely a congenial spirit in such a party.
The Travelling Companions|F. Anstey
The Austrian campaign of 1809 called him from these congenial labours to the even more congenial operations of war.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
He clung desperately to the hope that he might remain a congenial memory to the unsuspecting girl at his side.
A Traitor's Wooing|Headon Hill
Moist situations are most congenial, as among the plants that effect them it finds its winged food.
Poachers and Poaching|John Watson
The wretched and outcast portion of humanity yielded to his skill its most congenial material.
Prophets of Dissent|Otto Heller

British Dictionary definitions for congenial

congenial

adjective

friendly, pleasant, or agreeablea congenial atmosphere to work in

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

Derived Formscongeniality (kənˌdʒiːnɪˈælɪtɪ) or congenialness, nouncongenially, adverb

Word Origin for congenial

C17: from con- (same) + genial 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for congenial

congenial

adj.

1620s, "kindred, sympathetic," from Latin com- "together" (see com-) + genialis "of birth," thus, "kindred" (see genus). Sense of "agreeable" is first recorded 1711. Related: Congeniality.