congenial

[kuhn-jeen-yuhl]

See more synonyms for congenial on Thesaurus.com

adjective

agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character: congenial surroundings.
suited or adapted in spirit, feeling, temper, etc.; compatible: a congenial couple.

Origin of congenial

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

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

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. favorable, pleasant, complaisant, sympathetic.

Antonyms

1, 2. disagreeable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for congenial

Contemporary Examples

She herself represents a congenial mingling of English and Scottish blood.
Queen Victoria’s Secret Scottish Sex Castle
Clive Irving
August 17, 2014
Initially, the congenial Enzi seemed to be blindsided by the Cheneys.
Mike Enzi Takes on Liz Cheney
Sandra McElwaine
October 23, 2013
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
All the congenial things the three Democratic presidents said are true.
Bush’s Legacy, Obama’s Choice
Michael Tomasky
April 25, 2013
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

Historical Examples

I often tell her that they are, after all, her most congenial associates.
Malbone
Thomas Wentworth Higginson
From the hush of these places, it is congenial to pass into the hushed resorts of business.
The Uncommercial Traveller
Charles Dickens
Praise is congenial to every human sense; the voice of praise is ever grateful to the ear of virtue.
Imogen
William Godwin
The song had begun with celebrating a theme, that must for ever be congenial to every female breast.
Imogen
William Godwin
These Artauds flourish in it all, as on a congenial dungheap.
Abbe Mouret's Transgression
Emile Zola

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

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

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.

congenial

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Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for congenial

Contemporary Examples

She herself represents a congenial mingling of English and Scottish blood.

Initially, the congenial Enzi seemed to be blindsided by the Cheneys.

America needs a strategy to adapt to the faltering strength of its most important and congenial allies.

All the congenial things the three Democratic presidents said are true.

That last round was congenial, like a group hug on American Idol.

Historical Examples

I often tell her that they are, after all, her most congenial associates.

From the hush of these places, it is congenial to pass into the hushed resorts of business.

Praise is congenial to every human sense; the voice of praise is ever grateful to the ear of virtue.

The song had begun with celebrating a theme, that must for ever be congenial to every female breast.

These Artauds flourish in it all, as on a congenial dungheap.

congenial

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for congenial

adj.

Origin of congenial