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

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

The uncles got a kick out of me and were more than good-natured with me. —Drew Carberry, Baltimore Sun, 22 Dec. 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