Meaning & use
congenial
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Pleasantly friendly and easy to be with, in a way that helps people relax.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a congenial host.
Patterns
- a congenial host
- a congenial atmosphere
Our host was a congenial man who made everyone feel welcome.
The small cafe has a congenial atmosphere for long chats.
The two colleagues were a congenial pair.
adjectivecomparableformal
Suited to your tastes or needs, so that you feel comfortable in it.
Grammar: Often followed by to: congenial to creative work.
Patterns
- be congenial to someone
- congenial surroundings
The quiet library was congenial to serious study.
He found a congenial job that matched his interests.
The mild climate was congenial to the vineyards.
Word forms
| comparative | more congenial |
|---|---|
| superlative | most congenial |
Common combinations
- congenial company
- We spent the evening in congenial company.
- congenial atmosphere
- The inn has a congenial atmosphere.
- congenial host
- A congenial host welcomed us.
- congenial environment
- They created a congenial environment for new staff.
- congenial to
- The setting was congenial to creative work.
Synonyms and how they differ
- genial
- Genial describes a person's warm manner, while congenial can describe a place or setting as well.
- agreeable
- Agreeable is more general and may mean simply acceptable, whereas congenial means warmly pleasant.
- friendly
- Friendly is a plain everyday word, and congenial sounds more formal and refined.
- sociable
- Sociable emphasizes liking company, while congenial emphasizes being pleasant to be with.
Opposites
Word family
- congeniality noun
- the quality of being congenial
- congenially adverb
- in a friendly, agreeable way
- uncongenial adjective
- unfriendly or unsuitable
- genial adjective
- warm and cheerful
Commonly confused: congenial or congenital?
congenial vs congenital
Congenital means present from birth, as in a congenital condition, whereas congenial means pleasant.
Practice
The retreat offered a ___ setting where writers could relax and work.
Choose one answer.
Congenial means pleasant and suiting your tastes. Congenital means present from birth, congested means crowded, and contagious means spreading by contact.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “congenial”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.