amicable
adjective
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What is the Difference Between amicable, companionable, and neighborly?
Amicable comes from Latin amīcābilis, meaning "friendly," and amāre, "to feel affection for" or "to love." Amāre has a number of English descendants, including amiable ("friendly, sociable, and congenial"), amorous ("strongly moved by love and especially sexual love"), and amateur, which, though it might seem surprising, is related to amāre by way of the Latin amātor, which means "lover" as well as "enthusiastic admirer" and "devotee."
Synonyms
- agreeable
- compatible
- congenial
- frictionless
- harmonious
- kindred
- unanimous
- united
Example Sentences
Annie Finnigan, Family Circle, 17 Oct. 2008 Instead, with the help of a neighborhood activist, Rob struck out in another direction. He retook his old turf from the dealers who had replaced him and opened a fruit stand and, later, a hot-dog concession. Bright, amicable and assured, Rob so impressed Anderson that the sociologist hired him as a part-time assistant. Ellis Cose, Newsweek, 30 Aug. 1999 Cops such as William Anderson and Lowell Powell had been Sonny's friends. "I was a policeman and he was something of a thug," Powell recalled, but nonetheless their dealings were amicable. In the big picture, however, there was no love lost between Sonny and the cops. Nick Tosches, Vanity Fair, February 1998 They reached an amicable agreement. the contract negotiations between the hotel workers and management were reasonably amicable Jessica Booth, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 Some growers are amicable, monitors say, but others threaten them with machetes and rusty shotguns. Simeon Tegel, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2022 But Batali was acquitted of indecent assault and battery after a Boston judge agreed with Batali's lawyers that the accuser had credibility issues and that photos suggested the encounter was amicable. CBS News, 24 Aug. 2022 Please rest assured that both Freddie and Lance are in good health, weren't separated and their break up was amicable. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 28 June 2022 Goodall’s departure from the Hays Farm project was amicable, Enfinger said. Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 17 Aug. 2022 The two reportedly split on amicable terms in 2020, but reconciled in May 2021, and were spotted in New York City together in August 2021. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 27 July 2022 Whether viewers find Cha Cha Real Smooth delightful or slightly grating will hinge on their feelings toward Raiff's almost aggressively amicable lead character. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 25 July 2022 Comedians Chelsea Handler and Jo Koy are breaking new ground in the breakup game with one of the year’s most amicable splits. Nardine Saadstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin amīcābilis "friendly" — more at amiable
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
amicable
adjective
Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spyamicable
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- unanimous
- compatible
- united
- congenial
- agreeable
- harmonious
- cooperative
- peaceful
- frictionless
- kindred
- friendly
- peaceable
- amiable
- symbiotic
- pacific
- sympathetic
- cordial
- neighborly
- understanding
- noncompetitive
- affable
- synergetic
- collaborating
- tolerant
- synergic
- genial
- uncompetitive
- nonconflicting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disagreeable
- incompatible
- antagonistic
- hostile
- unfriendly
- inharmonious
- uncongenial
- discordant
- antipathetic
- conflicting
- inimical
- contentious
- belligerent
- opposite
- disunited
- disharmonious
- quarrelsome
- contradictory
- competitive
- contrary
- opposing
- clashing
- competing
- contradicting
- rivaling
- rivalling
Synonyms & Similar Words
- friendly
- warm
- gracious
- cordial
- chummy
- collegial
- companionable
- neighborly
- affectionate
- merry
- sweet
- nice
- comradely
- genial
- warmhearted
- loving
- matey
- agreeable
- hail-fellow-well-met
- buddy-buddy
- affable
- approachable
- hearty
- hospitable
- fraternal
- social
- palsy
- convivial
- jovial
- bonhomous
- palsy-walsy
- hail-fellow
- close
- gregarious
- jolly
- familiar
- outgoing
- good-natured
- sociable
- folksy
- clubby
- good-tempered
- intimate
- extroverted
- devoted
- brotherly
- adoring
- sisterly
- fond
- extraverted
- tenderhearted
- tender
- lovesome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- antagonistic
- hostile
- unfriendly
- estranged
- alienated
- cool
- cold
- icy
- frosty
- aggressive
- glacial
- frigid
- unsociable
- contentious
- pugnacious
- unsocial
- chilly
- belligerent
- combative
- truculent
- disputatious
- quarrelsome
- argumentative
- bellicose
- wintry
- wintery
- inhospitable
- inimical
- scrappy
- cold-blooded
Synonym Chooser
The words friendly and neighborly are common synonyms of amicable. While all three words mean "exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism," amicable implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel.
In some situations, the words friendly and amicable are roughly equivalent. However, friendly stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations.
The synonyms neighborly and amicable are sometimes interchangeable, but neighborly implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle.