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Definitions

companionable

[kuhm-pan-yuh-nuh-buhl] / kəmˈpæn yə nə bəl /
ADJECTIVE
friendly
Synonyms
WEAK
affable amicable buddy-buddy clubby complacent congenial conversable convivial cordial cozy cozy with familiar genial good-natured gregarious intimate mellow neighborly outgoing pally palsy sociable social tight tight with
Antonyms
WEAK
antagonistic foreign opposing unfriendly

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for companionable?
Describing someone as companionable means that they are pleasant to be with or be around. It often means that they are (or at least have the makings of) a good companion or friend. Words that suggest a similar sense of friendliness and comfort include congenial and affable. The word simpatico can mean the same thing. A person who is described as companionable is often compatible with their companion or friend. The word companionable isn’t only applied to people. The phrase companionable silence, for example, refers to the kind of silence that occurs between people who are comfortable enough with each other that they can be in each other’s presence without always needing to speak.
What is the opposite (antonym) of companionable?
Words that suggest the opposite of companionable include unfriendly and antagonistic. These suggest that a person is the opposite of what makes a good companion—that they are cold or perhaps even hostile. The opposite of a companionable silence is an awkward silence, which suggests a lack of closeness or ease.
How do you use companionable in a sentence?
Companionable isn’t used all that often, perhaps because it sounds a bit too formal to describe a person you’re familiar or comfortable with. Here are some examples of companionable in a sentence:
  • I did all I could to be friendly and companionable, but no one seemed to have any interest in talking with me.
  • We spent the plane ride in companionable silence, occasionally pointing out passages in the books we were reading. 
  • I had a most companionable conversation with the new principal—I think we’ll get on quite well.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We had Zoom sessions where everyone kept their camera on, but nobody talked, just wrote in companionable silence.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2026

It's punctuated by stretches of companionable silence, where Young drums on his knees, or interacts with his son Ben, who was born with severe cerebral palsy.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2025

At FourFiveSix, a bar in Brooklyn, over 60 people showed up to read in companionable silence with strangers this month.

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2023

But his personal life is all charm: living in the picture-perfect small town of Three Pines, Quebec, with his companionable wife, Reine-Marie, and an assortment of delightful neighbors and friends.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2023

“He isn’t nearly as skillful as Vincent, but it will be more companionable than being on my own.”

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Vocabulary lists containing companionable

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