Meaning & use

amicable

adjective·Academicformal

Last updated

UK/ˈæmɪkəbl/
US/ˈæmɪkəbl/

Meaning

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Marked by goodwill, with no anger or bitterness between the people involved.

    Grammar: Usually describes a settlement, split or relationship: an amicable divorce.

    Patterns

    • amicable settlement
    • amicable relationship

    The two companies reached an amicable agreement.

    They had an amicable divorce.

    The meeting was amicable.

Word forms

comparativemore amicable
superlativemost amicable

Common combinations

amicable settlement
An amicable settlement was reached.
amicable split
An amicable split.
amicable relationship
An amicable relationship.
remain amicable
They remained amicable.
amicably
They parted amicably.

Synonyms and how they differ

friendly
Everyday and warmer.
cordial
Polite and warm, formal.
civil
Merely polite.

Opposites

Word family

amicably adverb
in a friendly way
amity noun
friendly relations (formal)

Commonly confused: amicable or amiable?

amicable vs amiable

Amiable describes a pleasant person; amicable describes relations or agreements.

Practice

The neighbors settled the fence dispute in an ___ way.

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