cordial

[kawr-juhl, -dee-uhl] / ˈkɔr dʒəl, -di əl /

ADJECTIVE

friendly, sociable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affectionate amicable cheerful congenial cozy earnest gracious heartfelt hearty jovial neighborly polite sincere sympathetic warm warmhearted welcoming

STRONG

glowing heart-to-heart social tender

WEAK

affable agreeable buddy-buddy clubby companionable convivial genial happy invigorating mellow palsy-walsy red-carpet responsive wholehearted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cold cool disagreeable insincere rude sad uncaring unconcerned unenthusiastic unfeeling unfriendly unhappy unkind unsociable unsympathetic

WEAK

aloof hostile indifferent inhospitable uncordial unpleasant

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.

Just minutes before the annual general meeting, club leaders suspended the vote over the men’s bar, and have since sent updates calling for cordial debate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

As if aware of this, in a lull during Pakistan's inevitable defeat, the ICC replayed the cordial exchange between Wasim and Rohit prior to the match.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

I asked Warsh via the Hoover Institution to comment on the criticisms he’s received and got a cordial demurral from a Hoover representative.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Blanchet noted there has been no progress towards easing Trump's sectoral tariffs battering key parts of Canada's economy and asked Carney if negotiations with the United States are "normal and cordial."

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

As much as I don’t want to tell him anything, I have to keep this cordial.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Vocabulary lists containing cordial

Grade 9, List 2

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More Positive Words to Describe a Person

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Body Language: Cor, Cord, Cardio ("Heart")

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