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companionable

[kuhm-pan-yuh-nuh-buhl] / kəmˈpæn jə 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.

See Examples For:

There was no luminous dial or companionable tick, just four numbers—12, 3, 6 and 9—with slashes for the other hours.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

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

From Slate ● Apr. 12, 2026

By contrast, “Shadow Ticket” offers a wildly seductive overture, a companionable but occasionally slack midsection, and a haunting sucker punch of an ending.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2025

"On each occasion, the tree has been a witness not only to our companionable day's walking, but also to the journeys of each of our lives," he said.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2023

Through my haze of discomfort, I pantomimed some of the games he liked to play, and even though Otto was sluggish, they were soon having a companionable time.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer

Vocabulary lists containing companionable

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