good-natured

adjective

good-na·​tured ˈgu̇d-ˈnā-chərd 

: of a pleasant and cooperative disposition

good-naturedly adverb

good-naturedness noun

Synonyms

• affable
• agreeable
• amiable
• genial
• good-tempered
• gracious
• mellow
• nice
• pleasant
• sweet
• well-disposed

Choose the Right Synonym for good-natured

amiable, good-natured, obliging, complaisant mean having the desire or disposition to please.

amiable implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with.

an amiable teacher not easily annoyed

good-natured implies cheerfulness or helpfulness and sometimes a willingness to be imposed upon.

a good-natured girl who was always willing to pitch in

obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful.

our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room

complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness.

was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair

Examples of good-natured in a Sentence

the guests at the party were a good-natured bunch

Recent Examples on the Web

Carroll was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the title role as a single mother struggling to raise her children who meets a good-natured garbage collector, played by Jones. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Sean Patrick Thomas plays Professor Chadwick, a good-natured educator who succumbs to his attraction to his teaching assistant, Cece. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024

Take breaks to play silly games with friends, make to-do lists into good-natured competitions — anything to enjoy the journey. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 Oct. 2024

Hulu, Max 'Tucker & Dale vs. Evil' (2010) Spoofing slashers and their tired cliches with a new perspective, the comedy features Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine as good-natured hillbillies assumed to be backwoods psycho killers by a bunch of college students. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

good-natured

adjective

good-na·​tured

ˈgu̇d-ˈnā-chərd

: of a pleasant cheerful disposition

good-naturedly adverb

good-naturedness noun