Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having the same tastes, habits, or temperament; sympathetic.
  • adjective Of a pleasant disposition; friendly and sociable.
  • adjective Suited to one's needs or nature; agreeable.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Partaking of the same nature or natural characteristics; kindred; like.
  • Hence Suited or adapted in character or feeling; pleasing or agreeable; harmonious; sympathetic; companionable.
  • Naturally suited or adapted; having fitness or correspondence; agreeable; pleasing: as, congenial work.
  • Synonyms Pleasing, Agreeable, etc. See pleasant.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Partaking of the same nature; allied by natural characteristics; kindred; sympathetic.
  • adjective Naturally adapted; suited to the disposition.
  • adjective (Bot.) capable of cross-fertilization or of being grafted; -- used of plants.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective having the same or very similar nature, personality, tastes, habits or interests
  • adjective friendly or sociable
  • adjective suitable to one's needs

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (used of plants) capable of cross-fertilization or of being grafted
  • adjective suitable to your needs

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably from con– + Latin genius, the personification of one's natural inclinations; see genius.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

con- + genial

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Examples

  • Pointing out that a claim I find congenial is bullshit is a symptom of class and gender privilege.

    Shorter Zuzu 2007

  • "We will review our stated position only if we are satisfied that the viability of the project is not being impinged, the integral nature of the mother plant and our ancillary units are being maintained and all stakeholders are committed to develop a long-term congenial environment for smooth operations of the plant," a Tata spokesman said in a statement.

    Tata Idles Work on Plant Despite Protests' End 2008

  • The woman who earns a competence in congenial work insists on economic standards which are often beyond the capacity of the men whom she knows and might possibly marry.

    Homemaking and Careers 1969

  • The woman who earns a competence in congenial work insists on economic standards which are often beyond the capacity of the men whom she knows and might possibly marry.

    Homemaking and Careers 1926

  • The woman who earns a competence in congenial work insists on economic standards which are often beyond the capacity of the men whom she knows and might possibly marry.

    Homemaking and Careers 1926

  • Suffering and death and all ugliness were forgotten in congenial and healthful companionship.

    Love and Life Behind the Purdah 1901

  • From the mangrove swamps at the mouths of turbid, sluggish rivers, where numberless alligators dwell in congenial slime, the State gradually rises inland, passing through all the imaginable wealth of tropical vegetation and produce till it becomes hilly, if not mountainous.

    The Golden Chersonese and the Way Thither Isabella Lucy 1883

  • A Tata Motors spokesperson told ET: “We will review our stated position only if we are satisfied that the viability of the project is not being impinged, the integral nature of the mother plant and our ancillary units are being maintained and all stakeholders are committed to develop a long-term congenial environment. â€

    Top Stories - Google News 2008

  • Japan promptly set about engaging the modern world on terms congenial to its own political priorities--not those of outsiders.

    Ian Fletcher: Japan, the Forgotten Protectionist Threat Ian Fletcher 2011

  • Japan promptly set about engaging the modern world on terms congenial to its own political priorities--not those of outsiders.

    Ian Fletcher: Japan, the Forgotten Protectionist Threat Ian Fletcher 2011

Comments

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  • Homes used this word when he was talking to Watson about his meeting with Moriarty that he was about to go to.

    July 23, 2012