Genial — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Genial (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

   "a genial host who makes a point of speaking personally to each and every guest"

   similar: affable, agreeable, amiable, 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

2. having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest

   "genial new neighbors who helped us unpack boxes and brought us dinner our first night in the new place"

   similar: amicable, bonhomous, buddy-buddy, chummy, collegial, companionable, comradely, cordial, friendly, 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

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

   "his genial offer to give me his seat on the bus"

   similar: affable, cordial, 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

4. marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low

   "wanted to move to a more genial clime for health reasons"

   similar: balmy, clement, equable, gentle, mild, moderate, soft, temperate
   related: clear, cloudless, fair, rainless, sunny, sunshiny, calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, tranquil, delightful, fine, pleasant
   opposite: harsh, inclement, intemperate, severe
   near: blustering, blustery, breezy, gusty, rough, squally, stormy, windy, misty, rainy, showery, bleak, cloudy, dismal, foggy, gloomy, gray, hazy, overcast, sunless, bitter, dirty, foul, nasty, raw