Are amiable and amicable the same?
Both amiable and amicable are adjectives (i.e., describing words) that have to do with pleasant or friendly feelings. The difference boils down to the correct contexts in which we should use either word:
We use amiable to describe someone as friendly or sociable, or something that pleases (or has a pleasing quality).
Amicable, on the other hand, describes when something that is, “done or achieved in a polite or friendly way and without arguing”; e.g., “an amicable agreement“. The distinction between them is clearer in how we use both:
Everyone knew him as an amiable fellow.
They managed to maintain amicable relations even after a messy divorce.
Therefore, amicable applies mostly to relations, situations, negotiations, or interactions; amiable describes people, attitudes, and dispositions.
“Amiable” / “amicable”, used in sentences
| Amiable, used in sentences |
|---|
| He seemed an amiable young man.
So amiable was the mood of the meeting that a decision was soon reached. He was amiable and charming, and he possessed an ability to make people feel comfortable in his presence. |
| Amicable, used in sentences |
|---|
| An amicable settlement was reached.
Despite their disagreement, they parted on amicable terms. It was an amicable divorce. The government and the union managed to reach an amicable settlement of the dispute. |
Amicable, synonyms
- amiable
- civil
- cordial
- courteous
- harmonious
- neighbourly
- peaceful
- polite
Practice using the verb in different tenses with example sentences to memorize the correct forms.
Amiable, synonyms
- affable
- amicable
- charming
- cheerful
- cordial
- delightful
- engaging
- friendly
- genial
- good-humoured
- good-natured
Word origin (of amicable/amiable)
Early 15c., “pleasant,” from Late Latin amicabilis “friendly,” a word in Roman law, from Latin amicus “friend,” ultimately from amare “to love”.
Late 14c., “kindly, friendly,” also “worthy of love or admiration,” from Old French amiable “pleasant, kind; worthy to be loved” (12c.), from Late Latin amicabilis “friendly,” from Latin amicus “friend, loved one,” noun use of an adjective, “friendly, loving”.
Read about other misused words
| Commonly misused words | UK English vs. US English |
|---|---|
| former vs. latter | burned or burnt? |
| bear with vs. bare with | color or colour? |
| breathe or breath | favorite vs. favourite |
| compliment vs. complement | smelled or smelt? |
| effect vs. affect | gray or grey? |
| elude or allude | favor vs. favour |
| it’s or its | analyze or analyse? |
Worksheet
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