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
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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
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of genial
Despite the hearing’s overall genial tone, Isaacman did face some tough questions about his support for NASA’s climate science and agricultural data missions, which the Project Athena plan reportedly proposed outsourcing to academia.
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Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 3 Dec. 2025
This genial doc-by-way-of-a-video-game may have been born out of the pandemic, which is what prompted out-of-work actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen to attempt a production of Hamlet staged entirely within Grand Theft Auto Online.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Carlos, the genial host and himself an ardent art lover, added a warm welcoming Miami touch of his own.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Matt and Ross Duffer, its genial creators, were able to sell Stranger Things as a sincere homage, a love letter to 1980s media born out of admiration, not a cynical cash grab in an era of supercuts and sequels.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genial
Adjective
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After the initial encounter, sending a brief email or text is both gracious and strategic.—
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Our recipe hails from Mary Ada Marshall, a resident of Smith Island, who was gracious enough to share her recipe.—
Adjective
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What better month to hunker down, swathed in a cozy sweater, with a warm drink and a good book in hand, than January?—
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Frisbee recounts feeling bathed in warm light and then having had a vision of himself leading thousands of hippies into the Pacific Ocean to be baptized.—
Adjective
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From curious critters to temperature fluctuations, the conditions in a garden shed aren't always hospitable for your back-stock items.—
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Determined to cast a wider net in humanity's search for sustenance, a group of NASA scientists travel to space to investigate three planets that could potentially prove hospitable for humans.—
Adjective
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The good thing is, most plants native to temperate parts of the globe evolved ways to deal with the annual seasonal cycle.—
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Heating the indoor air in winter means the air will retain more moisture (it won't be dispersed to help humidify plants or your sinuses), but lowering the thermostat to a temperate 68 degrees F can help increase relative humidity in your home, and this can help your houseplants stay vibrant.—
Adjective
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Fortunately, there's usually plenty of pleasant autumn days after the first frost to tackle the remaining fall gardening tasks at a more leisurely rate.—
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Today the Moon in your sign is dancing with fair Venus creating pleasant feelings between you and everyone else.—
Adjective
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Head to Amazon now to shop even more petite-friendly comfy pants, and keep scrolling to check out the rest of my favorite picks.—
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Looking for more cold-weather-friendly sets?—
Adjective
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Common exfoliators and fine line-eliminators like retinol and glycolic acid are too harsh on my skin, but this serum utilizes lactic acid, which is far more gentle but just as potent.—
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Instead of direct water exposure, the robot switches to a gentler mechanical process.—
Adjective
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The suede upper is also a nice departure from classic leather on other styles.—
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Monogramming linens and towels is always a nice touch.—
Cite this Entry
“Genial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genial. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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