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Synonym Chooser

How is the word genial different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of genial are affable, cordial, gracious, and sociable. While all these words mean "markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse," genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.

a genial companion with a ready quip

When is it sensible to use affable instead of genial?

The words affable and genial can be used in similar contexts, but affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.

though wealthy, she was affable to all

When can cordial be used instead of genial?

The meanings of cordial and genial largely overlap; however, cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.

our host was cordial as he greeted us

When would gracious be a good substitute for genial?

While the synonyms gracious and genial are close in meaning, gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.

the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues

Where would sociable be a reasonable alternative to genial?

The synonyms sociable and genial are sometimes interchangeable, but sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.

sociable people who enjoy entertaining

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 genial The team reached a crossroads last August, when Dipoto fired manager Scott Servais amid a summer slide and replaced him with Dan Wilson, a genial former catcher in the team’s Hall of Fame. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025 While the weekly show the Kansas City tight end co-hosts with his retired NFL sibling Jason Kelce regularly gets anywhere from 12,000 to nearly 300,000 views on YouTube for their genial sports talk, the figures for Swift’s pop-in are already, predictably, off the charts. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025 The staff is almost entirely local, including K Club veteran Alexander de Souza, a genial presence with a jaunty earring who’ll whip up a lethal rum punch for a sundowner, and another staffer who brings a fruit plate every morning at breakfast. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2025 Hundreds of shows and tens of thousands of hours have aired after primetime, offering a good hang and a genial laugh to ease us from waking worry into sleep. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for genial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genial
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
  • 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
  • Finally, researchers found widespread deposits of sepiolite, a mineral that forms in low-temperature, alkaline waters considered highly hospitable from an Earth perspective.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Was there ever an environment less hospitable to humans?
    Thomas Page McBee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These temperate, food-rich waters are a buffet for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, drawing them in to chase down mullet, menhaden, and other small fish.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
  • People, including sailors or builders, who worked jobs that kept them solvent during temperate weather, might be left wageless as winter approached.
    Time, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The exterior design is understated and pleasant.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The dog-friendly outdoor space practically beckons visitors to grab a glass and a seat to while away a pleasant weekend afternoon.
    Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather, this is merely one more reflection of how Iger has long sought to position Disney as a family-friendly, classic Americana brand with appeal across all sides while eschewing blatantly divisive programming.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The result is a more stable, income-friendly sector—even if production growth is less dramatic.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, the findings hint that raspberry leaf tea may support glucose control as a gentle, accessible complement to medication or other standard treatments.
    Christina Manian, Health, 19 Sep. 2025
  • These styles are also gentle and pliable against gums.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These aren't nice-to-haves anymore.
    Jaime Catmull, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The futon mattress is comfortable and has a nice weight distribution thanks to the pocket springs wrapped in polyester fiber.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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