Synonym Chooser

How is the word good-natured distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of good-natured are amiable, complaisant, and obliging. While all these words mean "having the desire or disposition to please," 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

Where would amiable be a reasonable alternative to good-natured?

The synonyms amiable and good-natured are sometimes interchangeable, but amiable implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with.

an amiable teacher not easily annoyed

When could complaisant be used to replace good-natured?

The meanings of complaisant and good-natured largely overlap; however, complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness.

was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair

When can obliging be used instead of good-natured?

The words obliging and good-natured can be used in similar contexts, but obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful.

our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of good-natured But Mangold cautions any filmmaker from taking the cynicism (or even good-natured mockery) of a satire too deeply to heart. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 27 Dec. 2024 Jun-ho is a good-natured and determined detective who spends Season 1 looking for his missing brother, In-ho. Kayti Burt, TIME, 24 Dec. 2024 The script swiftly navigates what could be sensitive waters, finding good-natured humor in the inflection points of Jewish and gentile relations without ever being disparaging. Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024 But Pacquiao had style and substance and a swagger that was somewhat more confidently good-natured than cocky. Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for good-natured 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for good-natured
Adjective
  • Dalin was gracious in the moment, but those close to him and the campaign acknowledge that the sting was real.
    George Allen, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025
  • The hotel feels grown-up and staff effusively handle all of your needs with a striking level of gracious humility.
    Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The restaurant is decidedly small, a pleasant change of scenery for Charlotte, where large, echoey restaurants have become so commonplace.
    Samantha Husted, Charlotte Observer, 16 Jan. 2025
  • There weren’t historical castles, pleasant hills, or the familiar scenes of chanting fans and players warming up around him.
    Henry Flynn, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Nintendo Switch Lite was a great way to play Switch games on a smaller device, and the Nintendo Switch OLED added a beautiful display and a handful of other nice upgrades.
    Jay Peters, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The engagement is certainly a nice break from the recent drama in Pats land - after New England’s season finale, the team fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, a move that has been heavily criticized by ex-Patriots.
    Ryan Morik, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Well, not actually tussling in a War of the Roses way; more an amiable tug-of-war on the village green before bonding over a few local ales.
    Sarah James, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2024
  • Federal prosecutors allege that Chinese spies have been operating in the San Gabriel Valley, seeking to influence local political leaders in hopes of cultivating allies amiable to China-friendly policies, including opposition to Taiwan‘s independence.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Big Sick Year: 2017 Runtime: 2h Director: Michael Showalter The wonderful screenwriters Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon basically told their own love story in this sweet and funny rom-com that Amazon picked up after audiences fell for it at Sundance.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
  • There, the Wicked costars embraced one another for a sweet photo.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near good-natured

Cite this Entry

“Good-natured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/good-natured. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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