Skip to main content
avuncular

avuncular

4 8.1
Kind and friendly in a warm way like an uncle
  • adjective
  • /əˈvʌŋkjələr/
translation icon : avuncular
  • He's a tall, avuncular man with a flabby belly and Arrow shirts: an accountant.

Examples

  • As Kay's children grew older, Frost became an avuncular figure in their household.

  • Max gave him an avuncular clap on the shoulder.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • As Kay's children grew older, Frost became an avuncular figure in their household.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Stephen does so; Dr. Feuerbach gives him an avuncular pat on the shoulder and leads him back to the dining room table.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The voice that Einstein adopts in the little book Relativity is kindly, patient, and avuncular.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Museveni is a bear of a man with an avuncular style that has disarmed many a visitor.

  • Franklin was an avuncular sage with a quick wit and a glint in his eye.

Synonyms

amiable
vsavuncular
21 3.4

Friendly and pleasant in a way people like

includes helpful informal guidance beyond simple friendliness
hearty
vsavuncular
20 3.7

Warm and sincere when showing friendship or welcome

is gentler and more casually advising than enthusiastic warmth
affable
vsavuncular
16 5.5

Friendly and easy to talk to

offers helpful, slightly advising personal attention rather than just pleasantness
kindhearted
vsavuncular
5 2.5

A person who is kind and caring

adds a personal familiar helpfulness rather than broad kindness
good-humored
vsavuncular
  • US
4 3.2

Cheerful and friendly to other people

focuses more on gentle help and guidance than on cheerfulness
grandfatherly
vsavuncular
2 3.4

Kind, gentle, and caring like a grandfather

is more casual and advisory than calm elder parental care
grandmotherly
vsavuncular
2 3.0

Being warm, gentle, and caring like a kind older woman who comforts others

is more casual and playfully helpful than calm older woman warmth
superfriendly
vsavuncular
  • Informal
3.2

Very warm and welcoming to people

is kinder but less intense and more comfortably helpful than extreme friendliness

Antonyms

17 3.0

Not giving useful help or advice

16 6.8

Acting in a hostile way toward someone or something

How Friendly

affectionate
56 2.2
warm
280 1.0
avuncular
4 8.1
friendly
773 1.0
pleasant
89 1.0

Surface Forms

avuncular positive

Etymology

Avuncular comes from the Latin avunculus, which means 'uncle' or 'mother's brother'. So, avuncular describes a kind, friendly, and helpful manner like an uncle.