Synonyms of good-natured

good-natured

adjective

ˈgu̇d-ˈnā-chərd 

as in gracious

having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations

the guests at the party were a good-natured bunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gracious
• pleasant
• nice
• amiable
• sweet
• affable
• friendly
• cheerful
• genial
• good-tempered
• agreeable
• delightful
• clever
• mellow
• polite
• kind
• attractive
• gentle
• well-disposed
• thoughtful
• neighborly
• benign
• civil
• amicable
• cordial
• enjoyable
• cheery
• courteous
• considerate
• sociable
• sunny
• likable
• companionable
• conversable
• likeable
• glad
• amenable
• obliging
• accommodating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unpleasant
• disagreeable
• ungracious
• surly
• unkind
• unamiable
• boorish
• rude
• discourteous
• inconsiderate
• irascible
• irritable
• cantankerous
• unsociable
• uncivil
• impolite
• petulant
• unmannerly
• peevish
• grumpy
• snappish
• grouchy
• ill-natured
• churlish
• ill-tempered
• dyspeptic
• touchy
• bilious
• cranky
• ungenial
• choleric
• testy
• contrary
• fussy
• ornery
• crabby
• querulous
• contentious
• argumentative
• ill-mannered
• bearish
• unattractive
• ill-humored
• sour
• quick-tempered
• unappealing
• vinegary

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of good-natured

Clark found a way to make chamber retreats engaging, creating skits that poked good-natured fun at everyone, Brough said. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2025

For all of the conspicuousness that comes along with a Secret Service entourage, however, Mila is still able to have a little bit of her own good-natured fun. —Alex Ross, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025

All four players had fond memories of the tournament, with Dostál offering a bit of good-natured ribbing toward Pastrnak and recalling not only his triumph of 2024 but his first experience in 2022, when his tournament was truncated by an injury. —Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025

The action is passable, the mythology is generic, and the post-credits scene is overly optimistic about the prospects for a sequel, but there’s a good-natured sense of wonder that ties it all together. —Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025