1
as in gracious
having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations
a genial host who makes a point of speaking personally to each and every guest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in warm
having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest
genial new neighbors who helped us unpack boxes and brought us dinner our first night in the new place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hospitable
showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations
his genial offer to give me his seat on the bus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in temperate
marked by temperatures that are neither too high nor too low
wanted to move to a more genial clime for health reasons
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of genial
George Wendt, the actor known for playing the genial, beer-guzzling barfly Norm Peterson on all 11 seasons of the classic sitcom Cheers, died Tuesday at 76.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 20 May 2025
In the aftermath of Radford’s breakthrough, OpenAI’s leadership—especially the genial Altman and his co-founder and chief scientist, the faintly shamanistic Ilya Sutskever—made a series of pivotal decisions.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
The moment came after Obama, Biden and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel had a friendly conversation onstage where the president fielded genial questions from his predecessor and the comedian that highlighted his political and legislative achievements.
—Anna Commander
sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
This bit of cautiously positive news came just after this board met with the genial Midwest consul general of China, Wang Baodong, and some of his staff and had a wide-ranging discussion, including on the tense state of affairs between the two countries, one these diplomats bemoan.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for genial
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 20 May 2025
In the aftermath of Radford’s breakthrough, OpenAI’s leadership—especially the genial Altman and his co-founder and chief scientist, the faintly shamanistic Ilya Sutskever—made a series of pivotal decisions.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
The moment came after Obama, Biden and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel had a friendly conversation onstage where the president fielded genial questions from his predecessor and the comedian that highlighted his political and legislative achievements.
—Anna Commander
sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
This bit of cautiously positive news came just after this board met with the genial Midwest consul general of China, Wang Baodong, and some of his staff and had a wide-ranging discussion, including on the tense state of affairs between the two countries, one these diplomats bemoan.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for genial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genial
Adjective
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The man was gifted, gracious, often generous and seldom mean-spirited.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
10 July 2025
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But goodness gracious, the Rockies are only (14-36) under Schaeffer after going 7-33 under Black.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Here, guests and stylish locals alike graze on warm flatbreads, stacked club sandwiches, silky smoked salmon & cream cheese bagels, and sharing Seafood and Charcuterie boards—brimming with serrano ham, pillowy focaccia, smoked mackerel, and plump Atlantic prawns. Prefer a slower pace?—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Albeit simple, the guesthouse offers a hearty breakfast within a whimsical breakfast room featuring ample gluten-free options and warm staff eager to offer up tips and local recommendations to make the most of your stay.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Warm and deeply hospitable, with some of the best food in the world and a flourishing art and design scene, the country's capital is a great place to visit any time.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
13 July 2025
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Most people think of Madison as the Wisconsin city most hospitable to cyclists but the state’s largest city is making strides.—
Jessica Van Egeren,
jsonline.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Located on the North Island near the Manawatū River, Palmerston (Palmy, colloquially) is representative of many cities around the world, with a largely temperate climate and a population of around 91,000 residents.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
7 May 2025
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Today, these ants primarily live in undisturbed and temperate eastern North American forests.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Like, so deeply moral and kind and pleasant and smart.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
14 July 2025
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Like so deeply moral and kind and pleasant and smart.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Best Prime Day Robot Vacuum Deals Need a friendly little robot to tidy up your house?—
Nena Farrell,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
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But if oil prices remain middling, even friendly policies might not compel companies to significantly ramp up drilling.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Hand wash with gentle soap and cold water, avoiding soaking, and use a mesh bag if machine washing is necessary.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
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With four smart modes (cool, gentle, fast, and style) and magnetic attachments like a diffuser and concentrator, the Zuvi puts you in control.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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The units also vary in shape: the cube is nice for nightstands, while the wider grand size works well on large dressers.—
Jamie Fischer,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
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And, the embroidery on the pillowcases adds a nice touch.—
Shalwah Evans,
People.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genial. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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