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as in obliging
willing to do a favor a kid-friendly restaurant with high chairs and a special menu for small-fry appetites

Synonyms & Similar Words

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friendly

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adverb

friendly

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective friendly contrast with its synonyms?

The words amicable and neighborly are common synonyms of friendly. While all three words mean "exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism," friendly stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations.

sought friendly advice

When can amicable be used instead of friendly?

Although the words amicable and friendly have much in common, amicable implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel.

maintained amicable relations

In what contexts can neighborly take the place of friendly?

The words neighborly and friendly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, neighborly implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle.

neighborly concern

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of friendly
Adjective
The couple, parents of two young children, felt something more family friendly fit their lives in 2022. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2022 Wednesday had a friendly-looking cloud and a few raindrops, and Thursday had a dark, threatening cloud with heavier drops. F. Martin Ralph, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2022
Adverb
Their youth has put together an impressive run of international friendlies this summer, led by Miami’s Simone Fontecchio in wins over Latvia and Argentina. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025 The Villarreal friendly offered a glimpse of both the potential and the challenge. Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Advertisement But behind closed doors, the GOP is a lot more science-friendly. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Sep. 2025 For more travel-friendly bags and accessories at Amazon, keep reading! Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for friendly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friendly
Adjective
  • The movie was roundly rejected by critics and general audiences aren’t any warmer, with moviegoer survey firm Cinema Score polling a bad C- grade among early viewers.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The pastel colorway, which also includes a warm blue and a mushroom hue bestows a sort of quiet luxury to your chamber.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Holly, who did not share her last name, posed in the familiar tourist style—appearing to hold up the tilted tower.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The fantastic is used to sketch out familiar story lines, but the metaphysical premise remains as vague as the dramatic stakes in the lives of the characters.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But this week's advance continues Kering's recent positive momentum.
    , CNBC, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Though it can be seen as a positive, his intervention helped, with Chelsea posing much more of an attacking threat and coming within minutes of winning 2-1.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Mister is by nature a friendly doggie who is always sweet and obliging when strangers want to pet him.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2025
  • To date, more than 11,000 TikTok users have commented on the post, with many voicing their comedic takes on the viral moment and the cat's obliging demeanor.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Knowing the extent of your fit as opener can prove helpful in competitive auctions.
    Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2025
  • There were very helpful reporters who would talk to us.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • As the dark fills his wood, owl and dark become each other’s intimates.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Tons of Spanx shapewear and intimates are on sale, including this wireless bra that offers full coverage, compression, and barely-there straps.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • With news of Redford’s death Tuesday at age 89, several Tiburon residents remembered him as a gracious, unassuming man who liked to walk around town and patronize local restaurants.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Bluemercury was gracious enough to clue our editors in on what its hottest products of the season are, so that you can be better informed when filling your cart with moisturizers, shampoos, serums, hair styling tools, eyeliners, and all sorts of other beauty essentials.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • He was acquired, along with closer Victor Vodnik, in a July 2023 trade with the Braves for reliever Pierce Johnson.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In the last fortnight alone, Starmer's Deputy Prime Minister and close ally Angela Rayner has resigned after a house tax scandal, triggering a major cabinet reshuffle.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Friendly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friendly. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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