Synonyms of friendly

friendly 1 of 3

adjective

ˈfren(d)-lē 

1

as in warm

having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest

all of the people in my new department seem friendly

as a friendly gesture, we presented our new neighbors with a plate of homemade cookies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• warm
• gracious
• nice
• amicable
• neighborly
• sweet
• merry
• collegial
• cordial
• affectionate
• companionable
• warmhearted
• chummy
• loving
• comradely
• genial
• hospitable
• hearty
• approachable
• hail-fellow-well-met
• good-natured
• familiar
• social
• fraternal
• affable
• matey
• jolly
• jovial
• buddy-buddy
• palsy
• bonhomous
• hail-fellow
• convivial
• outgoing
• sociable
• palsy-walsy
• gregarious
• close
• agreeable
• folksy
• good-tempered
• devoted
• clubby
• adoring
• intimate
• extroverted
• extraverted
• brotherly
• fond
• sisterly
• tenderhearted
• tender
• lovesome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hostile
• unfriendly
• antagonistic
• cool
• cold
• alienated
• icy
• glacial
• aggressive
• frosty
• chilly
• frigid
• belligerent
• wintry
• combative
• pugnacious
• contentious
• unsocial
• argumentative
• estranged
• bellicose
• quarrelsome
• truculent
• inimical
• inhospitable
• scrappy
• cold-blooded
• unsociable
• wintery
• disputatious

2

as in familiar

closely acquainted

we're friendly with our neighbors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• familiar
• close
• intimate
• chummy
• comfortable
• inseparable
• tight
• bosom
• inward
• especial
• near
• loving
• affectionate
• thick
• gracious
• buddy-buddy
• affable
• convivial
• cordial
• social
• companionable
• dear
• easy
• sociable
• gregarious
• genial
• clannish
• amicable
• neighborly
• cozy
• close-knit
• tight-knit
• warm
• boon
• confidential
• hearty
• secretive
• adoring
• devoted
• fond
• snug
• tenderhearted
• tender

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distant
• unfriendly
• cold
• distant
• withdrawn
• remote
• cool
• aloof
• antisocial
• detached
• frosty
• standoffish
• reserved
• unsociable

3

as in positive

expressing approval

a friendly sign that our pet project would be approved

Synonyms & Similar Words

• positive
• favorable
• good
• appreciative
• supportive
• complimentary
• approving
• commendatory
• warm
• admiring
• respectful
• sympathetic
• accepting
• approbatory
• applauding
• flattering
• laudatory
• praiseful
• eulogistic
• worshipful
• hagiographical
• hagiographic
• adoring
• encomiastic
• panegyrical
• advisory
• laudative
• adulatory
• worshipping
• recommendatory
• worshiping
• idolizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfriendly
• negative
• unfavorable
• adverse
• derogatory
• uncomplimentary
• disapproving
• unappreciative
• unflattering
• depreciative
• depreciatory
• inappreciative
• critical
• captious
• hypercritical
• overcritical
• contemptuous
• faultfinding
• scornful
• disdainful
• censuring
• disparaging
• belittling
• carping
• cavilling
• slighting
• caviling

4

as in obliging

willing to do a favor

a kid-friendly restaurant with high chairs and a special menu for small-fry appetites

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obliging
• helpful
• accommodative
• gracious
• accommodating
• indulgent
• thoughtful
• solicitous
• considerate
• permissive
• amenable
• lenient
• complaisant
• agreeable
• overindulgent

5

as in helpful

promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being

the state's attitude towards commercial development is widely regarded as friendly to the business community

Synonyms & Similar Words

• helpful
• beneficial
• favorable
• good
• profitable
• satisfying
• kindly
• advantageous
• beneficent
• desirable
• salutary
• benignant
• supportive
• lucrative
• healthy
• benefic
• rewarding
• promising
• gratifying
• wholesome
• healthful
• propitious
• constructive
• auspicious
• advisable
• salubrious
• gainful
• remunerative
• salutiferous
• ameliorative
• amelioratory
• bettering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfriendly
• bad
• unfavorable
• unhelpful
• unprofitable
• disadvantageous
• harmful
• injurious
• damaging
• deleterious
• insalubrious

friendly

2 of 3

adverb

as in friendlily

Synonyms & Similar Words

• friendlily
• amicably
• good-naturedly
• jocularly
• laughingly
• blithely
• breezily
• gladly
• lightheartedly
• good-humoredly
• hopefully
• optimistically
• blithesomely
• sunnily
• exuberantly
• joyously
• joyfully
• sanguinely
• cheerfully
• giddily
• gladsomely
• amusedly
• blissfully
• cheerily
• jovially
• rapturously
• smilingly
• happily
• gayly
• euphorically
• gigglingly
• merrily
• heartily
• jocosely
• elatedly
• mirthfully
• brightly
• gaily

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• heavily
• darkly
• unhappily
• miserably
• bleakly
• morosely
• wretchedly
• abjectly
• sternly
• dejectedly
• mournfully
• disconsolately
• cheerlessly
• sorrowfully
• dolefully
• sourly
• plaintively
• sullenly
• despondently
• sulkily
• forlornly
• dispiritedly
• glumly
• dourly
• dismally
• gloomily
• drearily
• pessimistically
• mirthlessly
• blackly
• dolorously

friendly

3 of 3

noun

as in intimate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• familiar
• intimate
• confidant
• friend
• buddy
• pal
• hearty
• partner
• alter ego
• confidante
• chum
• colleague
• compadre
• crony
• associate
• peer
• comrade
• companion
• fellow
• cohort
• amigo
• blood brother
• benefactor
• musketeer
• supporter
• brother
• sport
• sister
• sympathizer
• ally
• mate
• accomplice
• acquaintance
• hobnobber
• main man
• collaborator
• well-wisher
• abetter
• abettor
• pen pal
• confederate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enemy
• foe
• adversary
• competitor
• opponent
• rival
• antagonist
• nemesis
• archenemy

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective friendly contrast with its synonyms?

The words amicable and neighborly are common synonyms of friendly. While all three words mean "exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism," friendly stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations.

sought friendly advice

When can amicable be used instead of friendly?

Although the words amicable and friendly have much in common, amicable implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel.

maintained amicable relations

In what contexts can neighborly take the place of friendly?

The words neighborly and friendly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, neighborly implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle.

neighborly concern

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of friendly

Adjective

The doorman is very friendly and asks if there’s a party going on. —Devan Díaz, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025

There is a legacy out there of bad harvests and tough winters that by some alchemy brings out the best in people, reminds them to be friendly and kind, and put others first. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025

Adverb

Wednesday had a friendly-looking cloud and a few raindrops, and Thursday had a dark, threatening cloud with heavier drops. —F. Martin Ralph, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2022

Midtown offices offers an excellent view — especially of the giant purple robot and friendly-looking hot dog that are waving from behind skyscrapers. —Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 28 July 2022

Noun

His last unofficial game for the club was their next friendly against Chelsea. —Guillermo Rai, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

Double-header friendlies against Brazil, China and the Republic of Ireland, and a one-off against Canada, will provide another 630 minutes to study. —Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025