Friendliness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈfren(d)-lē-nəs/ friend·li·ness

Meaning & Definition of Friendliness

Friendliness (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being friendly
  2. disposition to goodwill, warmth, or kindness to others
  3. the quality of being suited to particular needs, concerns, users, etc. —often used in combination

Friendliness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. kindly concern, interest, or support

    "the family was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the welcoming committee"

    similar: amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness
    related: bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement, generosity, affinity, communion, empathy, kindness, sympathy, tolerance, altruism, philanthropy, selflessness, unselfishness
    opposite: ill will, malevolence, venom
    near: disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness

Related Entry: Friendly (adjective)

Friendly is a different word from Friendliness. The synonyms below are for friendly, not for friendliness.

  1. having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest

    "all of the people in my new department seem friendly"

    "as a friendly gesture, we presented our new neighbors with a plate of homemade cookies"

    similar: amicable, bonhomous, buddy-buddy, chummy, collegial, companionable, comradely, cordial, genial, hail-fellow, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, matey (chiefly British), neighborly, palsy, palsy-walsy (slang), warm, warmhearted
    related: affable, agreeable, approachable, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, nice, sweet, clubby, convivial, folksy, gregarious, hospitable, sociable, social, jolly, jovial, merry, extroverted, outgoing, brotherly, fraternal, sisterly, close, familiar, intimate, adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, lovesome, loving, tender, tenderhearted
    opposite: antagonistic, hostile, unfriendly
    near: alienated, estranged, chilly, cold, cold-blooded, cool, frigid, frosty, glacial, icy, wintry, unsociable, unsocial, aggressive, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, inhospitable, inimical

  2. closely acquainted

    "we're friendly with our neighbors"

    similar: bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, familiar, inseparable, intimate, inward, near, thick, tight
    related: clannish, close-knit, tight-knit, affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty, gregarious, sociable, social, comfortable, cozy, easy, snug, amicable, neighborly, confidential, secretive, adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warm
    opposite: distant
    near: aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn

  3. expressing approval

    "a friendly sign that our pet project would be approved"

    similar: admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, approving, commendatory, complimentary, favorable, good, positive
    related: accepting, warm, encomiastic, eulogistic, flattering, hagiographic, laudative, laudatory, panegyrical, praiseful, respectful, supportive, sympathetic, adoring, adulatory, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping, advisory, recommendatory
    opposite: adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative, unappreciative, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unflattering, unfriendly
    near: captious, carping, caviling, censuring, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, belittling, contemptuous, disdainful, disparaging, scornful, slighting

  4. willing to do a favor

    "a kid-friendly restaurant with high chairs and a special menu for small-fry appetites"

    similar: accommodating, accommodative, indulgent, obliging
    related: helpful, solicitous, considerate, thoughtful, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, gracious, lenient, overindulgent, permissive

  5. promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being

    "the state's attitude towards commercial development is widely regarded as friendly to the business community"

    similar: advantageous, benefic, beneficent, beneficial, benignant, favorable, good, helpful, kindly, profitable, salutary
    related: gratifying, rewarding, satisfying, auspicious, promising, propitious, advisable, desirable, healthful, healthy, salubrious, salutiferous, wholesome, gainful, lucrative, remunerative, ameliorative, amelioratory, bettering, constructive, supportive
    opposite: bad, disadvantageous, unfavorable, unfriendly, unhelpful, unprofitable
    near: damaging, deleterious, harmful, injurious, insalubrious

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Friendliness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Friendliness:

amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Friendliness

Words with the opposite meaning of Friendliness:

ill will, malevolence, venom

Related Words for Friendliness

bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement, generosity, affinity, communion, empathy, kindness, sympathy, tolerance, altruism, philanthropy, selflessness, unselfishness

Near Antonyms of Friendliness

disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness

Origin & Etymology of Friendliness

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Friendliness

What does "Friendliness" mean?

"Friendliness" means the quality or state of being friendly. As a noun, it is defined as: the quality or state of being friendly.

What is another word for "Friendliness"?

Other words for "Friendliness" include amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship and friendship. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Friendliness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Friendliness"?

There are 37 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Friendliness". Common alternatives include amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendship, gemütlichkeit and good-fellowship.

What is the opposite of "Friendliness"?

Antonyms of "Friendliness" include ill will, malevolence and venom. Near antonyms include disfavor, intolerance, animosity and antagonism.

How do you use "Friendliness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Friendliness" in a sentence: "the family was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the welcoming committee".

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

"Friendliness" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Friendliness"?

"Friendliness" is pronounced /ˈfren(d)-lē-nəs/ and divided into syllables as friend·li·ness.

What is the origin of the word "Friendliness"?

First known use: 15th century.