congenial
Americanadjective
-
agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character.
congenial surroundings.
- Synonyms:
- united, sympathetic, kindred, harmonious, complaisant, pleasing, pleasant, favorable, enjoyable, agreeable
- Antonyms:
- disagreeable
-
suited or adapted in spirit, feeling, temper, etc.; compatible.
a congenial couple.
adjective
-
friendly, pleasant, or agreeable
a congenial atmosphere to work in
-
having a similar disposition, tastes, etc; compatible; sympathetic
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of congenial
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin con- con- + geni(us) genius + -al 1
Explanation
A congenial person is easy to get along with. If you're trying to decide which of your friends to take on a road trip, choose the most congenial one. Congenial means sharing the same temperament, or agreeing with your temperament. You can talk about a congenial person, place, or environment. Maybe you enjoy the congenial atmosphere of the library. Or perhaps for you the disco is more congenial. As you might expect for such a vaguely approving word, there are many synonyms: agreeable, pleasant, delectable, delightful, enjoyable, and so on.
Vocabulary lists containing congenial
"The Landlady" by Roald Dahl
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!
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 8–13
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!
Grade 10, List 6
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.
Borel, a congenial 39-year-old whose family owns the inn in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, thought their request to see the wine collection was strange, but he led them downstairs anyway.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026
To Mediavilla, she is an overlooked Disneyland personality, working to set up tour school groups, help define children’s activities and be an advocate for Disneyland’s overly congenial hospitality.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026
That may be just a more congenial way to encounter a set of ideas you disagree with than a newspaper column that tries to make a particular argument or point.
From Slate • Oct. 7, 2025
Sir John said the world was changing and "may not be reshaping in a way that is congenial to the West".
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2025
They were reckless, puerile, congenial, naive, presumptuous, deferential and rambunctious.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
