Affability — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈa-fə-bəl/ af·fa·ble

Meaning & Definition of Affability

Affability (adjective)

  1. being pleasant and at ease in talking to others
  2. characterized by ease and friendliness

Affability (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the state or quality of having a pleasant or agreeable manner in socializing with others

    "First Lady Dolley Madison was beloved by the nation for her affability toward people from all walks of life"

    similar: agreeability, agreeableness, amenity, amiability, amiableness, geniality, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, graciousness, niceness, personableness, pleasantness, sweetness
    related: amenability, complaisance, mellowness, sweetness and light, amicability, amicableness, amity, cordiality, empressement, friendliness, gemütlichkeit, benignity, gentleness, kindliness, kindness, cheerfulness, cheeriness, sunniness, civility, comity, considerateness, consideration, courteousness, courtesy, politeness, thoughtfulness, attractiveness, delightfulness, enjoyableness, likability, likableness, pleasingness
    opposite: disagreeableness, unpleasantness
    near: boorishness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, ungraciousness, biliousness, cantankerousness, churlishness, crankiness, fussiness, grouchiness, grumpiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, peevishness, petulance, testiness, contentiousness, contrariness, orneriness, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, hostility, unfriendliness, sourness, vinegar

Related Entry: Affable (adjective)

Affable is a different word from Affability. The synonyms below are for affable, not for affability.

  1. having a relaxed, casual manner

    "as the show's affable host, she keeps the freewheeling gabfest from getting out of hand"

    similar: breezy, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, low-pressure, mellow
    related: carefree, casual, dégagé, lackadaisical, nonchalant, unaffected, unconcerned, unfussy, unperturbed, untroubled, unworried, familiar, homey, informal, flexible, lax, lenient, permissive, pliable, pliant, soft, accessible, approachable, imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable, amicable, companionable, comradely, cordial, genial, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, neighborly, warm, warmhearted
    opposite: high-strung, uptight
    near: ceremonious, decorous, formal, rigid, strict, anxious, bothered, distressed, worried, jittery, jumpy, nervous, skittish, tense

  2. having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations

    "as an experienced event planner, he knows that having an affable emcee is critical"

    similar: agreeable, amiable, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, mellow, nice, pleasant, sweet, well-disposed
    related: amicable, clever (dialect), cordial, friendly, neighborly, benign, gentle, kind, cheerful, cheery, glad (archaic), sunny, companionable, conversable, sociable, civil, considerate, courteous, polite, thoughtful, accommodating, amenable, obliging, attractive, delightful, enjoyable, likable
    opposite: disagreeable, ill-natured, ill-tempered, unamiable, ungenial, ungracious, unpleasant
    near: boorish, discourteous, ill-mannered, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, surly, uncivil, unkind, unmannerly, unsociable, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, choleric, churlish, crabby, cranky, dyspeptic, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, ill-humored, irascible, irritable, peevish, petulant, quick-tempered, snappish, testy, touchy, argumentative, contentious, contrary, ornery, querulous, unappealing, unattractive, sour, vinegary

  3. showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations

    "although First Lady Lucretia Hayes didn't particularly enjoy her role as White House hostess, she was always affable"

    similar: cordial, genial, gracious, hospitable, sociable
    related: agreeable, amiable, benign, benignant, congenial, convivial, friendly, kind, kindly, neighborly, accommodating, obliging, considerate, courteous, polite, thoughtful, cosmopolitan, sophisticated, urbane, approachable, attentive, outgoing
    opposite: inhospitable, ungenial, ungracious, unsociable
    near: boorish, churlish, abrupt, blunt, brusque, curt, gruff, sharp, snippy, antisocial, disagreeable, discourteous, ill-mannered, impolite, rude, sullen, surly, uncivil, unfriendly, unkind, unmannerly, crabbed, crabby, cross, crusty, grumpy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Affability

The most common words with a similar meaning to Affability:

agreeability, agreeableness, amenity, amiability, amiableness, geniality, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, graciousness, niceness, personableness, pleasantness, sweetness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Affability

Words with the opposite meaning of Affability:

disagreeableness, unpleasantness

Related Words for Affability

amenability, complaisance, mellowness, sweetness and light, amicability, amicableness, amity, cordiality, empressement, friendliness, gemütlichkeit, benignity, gentleness, kindliness, kindness, cheerfulness, cheeriness, sunniness, civility, comity, considerateness, consideration, courteousness, courtesy, politeness, thoughtfulness, attractiveness, delightfulness, enjoyableness, likability

Near Antonyms of Affability

boorishness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, ungraciousness, biliousness, cantankerousness, churlishness, crankiness, fussiness, grouchiness, grumpiness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, peevishness, petulance, testiness, contentiousness, contrariness, orneriness, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, hostility, unfriendliness, sourness, vinegar

Word Forms of Affability

Derived words: affability (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Affability

Middle English affabyl, borrowed from Anglo-French affable, borrowed from Latin affābilis, from affārī "to speak to, address" (from ad- ad- + fārī "to speak") + -bilis "capable of (being acted upon)" ban:1, -able

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Affability

What does "Affability" mean?

"Affability" means being pleasant and at ease in talking to others. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: being pleasant and at ease in talking to others.

What is another word for "Affability"?

Other words for "Affability" include agreeability, agreeableness, amenity, amiability, amiableness, geniality, good-naturedness and good-temperedness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Affability" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Affability"?

There are 45 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Affability". Common alternatives include agreeability, agreeableness, amenity, amiability, amiableness, geniality, good-naturedness, good-temperedness, graciousness and niceness.

What is the opposite of "Affability"?

Antonyms of "Affability" include disagreeableness and unpleasantness. Near antonyms include boorishness, discourtesy, impoliteness and incivility.

How do you use "Affability" in a sentence?

Examples of "Affability" in a sentence: "First Lady Dolley Madison was beloved by the nation for her affability toward people from all walks of life".

Is "Affability" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Affability" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Affability"?

"Affability" is pronounced /ˈa-fə-bəl/ and divided into syllables as af·fa·ble.

What is the origin of the word "Affability"?

"Affability" comes from Middle English affabyl, borrowed from Anglo-French affable, borrowed from Latin affābilis, from affārī "to speak to, address" (from ad- ad- + fārī "to speak") + -bilis "capable of (being acted upon)" ban:1, -able. First known use: 15th century.