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amicable

amicable

20 5.5
Being friendly and not angry or in strong disagreement with someone
  • adjective
  • /ˈæmɪkəbl/
translation icon : amistoso
  • And that could be an amicable and productive discussion.
  • amicable relations
  • amicable relationship

But also emotionally realize that it's important to be amicable in any situation.

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Examples

  • It was an amicable parting of the ways.

  • The second front involved fostering a more amicable relationship with the United States.

    Academic text (2006)
  • I know we can reach an amicable agreement.

  • I'm sure that we could come to an amicable agreement.

  • The visits were brief, amicable, and even friendly at times.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Their separation had been reasonably amicable, although initially she had not wanted to let him go.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I know that we're all concerned with what's best for Leo, so I'm hoping that we can settle this in an amicable way.

  • It will be divided fifty-fifty... as per our very amicable divorce agreement.

  • Was your divorce amicable?

  • I know we can reach an amicable agreement.

Synonyms

cordial
vsamicable
33 4.1

Showing warm, friendly, and sincere feeling

is about friendly nonhostile relations rather than warm personal feeling
harmonious
vsamicable
14 4.2

People who live and work together peacefully

emphasises friendly disagreement-free relations not only general coexistence
peaceable
vsamicable
7 4.1

Calm and not wanting to fight or argue

focuses on friendly nonhostile relations rather than mere calmness

Antonyms

194 4.6

Showing strong dislike or opposition

22 1.9

Not kind or warm to other people

How Friendly

warm
280 1.0
cordial
33 4.1
amicable
20 5.5
civil
585 3.9
distant
61 4.9

Surface Forms

amicable positive

Morphology

amicable = amic + able

The suffix '-able' is productive and signals an adjective, but the root 'amic' is a Latin combining form not a standalone English word, so learners get a partial clue (adjectival meaning) but not a transparent lexical link to 'friend'.

Etymology

Amicable comes from the Latin root amic- meaning 'friend' and from amare meaning 'to love', the same root behind the English word amity which means 'friendship'. So an amicable agreement or relation is one that is friendly and done without anger.