cordial
1 of 2adjective
Daniel Defoe cordial
2 of 2noun
Did you know?
Cordial shares the Latin root cor with concord (meaning "harmony") and discord (meaning "conflict"). Cor means "heart," and each of these cor descendants has something to do with the heart, at least figuratively. Concord, which comes from con- (meaning "together" or "with") plus cor, suggests that one heart is with another. Discord combines the prefix dis- (meaning "apart") with cor, and it implies that hearts are apart. When cordial was first used in the 14th century, it literally meant "of or relating to the heart," but this sense has not been in use since the 17th century. Today anything that is cordial, be it a friendly welcome, a compliment, or an agreement, comes from the heart in a figurative sense.
Synonyms
Adjective
- amicable
- bonhomous
- buddy-buddy
- chummy
- collegial
- companionable
- comradely
- friendly
- genial
- hail-fellow
- hail-fellow-well-met
- hearty
- matey [chiefly British]
- neighborly
- palsy
- palsy-walsy [slang]
- warm
- warmhearted
Example Sentences
Calvin Trillin, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2001 Though its chairman, Charles Obi, was cordial to him, the others made it clear that they didn't want him. Ishmael Reed, Japanese by Spring, 1993 My reception was cordial enough … Robert Frost 7 Jan. 1913, in Selected Letters of Robert Frost, edited by Lawrance Thompson, 1964 Mr. Price now received his daughter; and having given her a cordial hug, and observed that she was grown into a woman … Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814 We received a cordial greeting from our hostess at the party. The two nations have maintained cordial relations. Noun It was fortunate that the boys never tested Alyce's magic, for the bottle she shook so fiercely at them was naught but blackberry cordial she was to deliver to Old Anna … Karen Cushman, The Midwife's Apprentice, 1995 A boy is said to become a man when he can sip the 140-proof anise-seed cordial without wincing. Paul L. Montgomery, New York Times, 6 Sept. 1965 "In this bottle," he said, "there is a cordial made of the juice of one of the fire-flowers that grow in the mountains of the sun. If you or any of your friends are hurt, a few drops of this will restore you." C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, 1950 See More Gabriele Steinhauser, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Her time in the Legislature overlapped with Palin’s time as governor and the two have been cordial. Becky Bohrer, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Sep. 2022 The missive, which has not been made public, purportedly relays a State Department assessment that Pakistan-U.S. relations have deteriorated under Khan and that a restoration of cordial ties would depend on his removal. Hasan Ali / Islamabad, Time, 1 Apr. 2022 Gerhard Schröder, who preceded Angela Merkel as chancellor from 1998 to 2005, is known for his cordial ties with Mr. Putin. New York Times, 14 Feb. 2022 Her Zoom interview with Menzel on Jan. 5, 2022, while perfectly cordial, left her somewhat troubled. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022 The two keep their distance for the remainder of the season, keeping things cordial enough at Helou's casino night event, where Hall makes sure to formally greet Tiffany. Topher Gauk-roger, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 When the officers attempted to take Brooks into custody, the encounter lost its cordial tone. Asia Simone Burns, ajc, 23 Aug. 2022 Many elements of what happened between those events—one seemingly cordial, the other unheard of—remain unknown. Aruna Viswanatha, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 Ian Knauer, WSJ, 27 July 2022 The aromatics on the nose have the intensity of a fruit cordial—florals surrounding black cherry layered with hints of pine forest, bay laurel and fresh-turned loam. Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2022 High-toned violet notes get out ahead of intense cherry cordial, crushed herbs, vivid spice, cedar and graphite. Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2022 Dense, velvety and sensual, the palate opens like black cherry cordial, plush but bright (the Carménère talking) with plum and anise flavors laced through fine tannins. Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2022 The restaurant also offers sake, wine and cocktails like the house Old Fashioned made with banana-washed Nikka Yoichi single malt, fresh banana cordial and Okinawa brown sugar. Alyson Sheppard, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2022 Mixed with cold soda water, a Jukes cordial at least tastes like an adult drink. John Seabrook, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2021 First, prepare the grapefruit-lime cordial at least the day prior to completing the cocktail. Laura Manske, Forbes, 2 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
Adjective
Middle English cordiall "of the heart, cardiac, invigorating, deeply felt," borrowed from Medieval Latin cordiālis, from Latin cord-, cor "heart" + -iālis -ial
Noun
Middle English, "stimulating substance," borrowed from Medieval Latin cordiāle, noun derivative from neuter of cordiālis "of the heart, invigorating" — more at cordial entry 1
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
cordial
adjective
Medical Definition
cordial
noun
cordial 1 of 2
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- warm
- friendly
- gracious
- collegial
- amicable
- neighborly
- chummy
- genial
- companionable
- affectionate
- comradely
- sweet
- merry
- nice
- warmhearted
- hearty
- loving
- hospitable
- hail-fellow-well-met
- fraternal
- matey
- convivial
- buddy-buddy
- jovial
- palsy-walsy
- agreeable
- affable
- approachable
- social
- palsy
- jolly
- bonhomous
- hail-fellow
- good-natured
- sociable
- outgoing
- close
- familiar
- gregarious
- folksy
- brotherly
- good-tempered
- clubby
- intimate
- fond
- sisterly
- devoted
- adoring
- extroverted
- tender
- tenderhearted
- extraverted
- lovesome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hostile
- antagonistic
- unfriendly
- frosty
- icy
- cold
- cool
- glacial
- estranged
- alienated
- chilly
- belligerent
- frigid
- combative
- aggressive
- quarrelsome
- pugnacious
- unsociable
- contentious
- wintry
- bellicose
- unsocial
- truculent
- wintery
- argumentative
- disputatious
- inimical
- inhospitable
- scrappy
- cold-blooded
Synonyms & Similar Words
- gracious
- hospitable
- polite
- friendly
- amiable
- affable
- genial
- kindly
- thoughtful
- sociable
- congenial
- outgoing
- courteous
- kind
- neighborly
- convivial
- obliging
- agreeable
- benign
- accommodating
- considerate
- cosmopolitan
- attentive
- urbane
- approachable
- benignant
- sophisticated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ungracious
- inhospitable
- unsociable
- ungenial
- curt
- brusque
- boorish
- churlish
- gruff
- blunt
- abrupt
- sharp
- snippy
- disagreeable
- unfriendly
- rude
- sullen
- surly
- discourteous
- impolite
- unkind
- uncivil
- unmannerly
- antisocial
- brusk
- cross
- grumpy
- crusty
- crabby
- crabbed
- ill-mannered
Synonyms & Similar Words
- refreshing
- restorative
- tonic
- invigorating
- medicinal
- vitalizing
- stimulating
- healthy
- stimulative
- reviving
- vital
- rejuvenating
- bracing
- helpful
- beneficial
- strengthening
- healthful
- therapeutic
- sharp
- wholesome
- salubrious
- conditioning
- salutary
- curative
- life-giving
- recuperative
- exhilarating
- animating
- quickening
- corrective
- remedial
- rehabilitative
- curing
- rectifying
- exhilarative
- reformative
- reformatory
- reparative
- remedying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- draining
- injurious
- exhausting
- weakening
- deleterious
- pernicious
- debilitating
- enervating
- deadening
- numbing
- wearying
- noxious
- unhealthy
- enfeebling
- sapping
- unwholesome
- unhealthful
- insalubrious
cordial
2 of 2noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- tonic
- medicinal
- drug
- potion
- physic
- medicine
- remedy
- botanical
- pharmaceutical
- nostrum
- medication
- specific
- medicament
- panacea
- prescription drug
- cure
- prescription
- syrup
- patent medicine
- cure-all
- liniment
- tincture
- miracle drug
- salve
- sirup
- wonder drug
- capsule
- tablet
- cap
- poultice
- injection
- pill
- lotion
- ointment
- embrocation
- shot
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of cordial are affable, genial, gracious, and sociable. While all these words mean "markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse," cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.
The synonyms affable and cordial are sometimes interchangeable, but affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.
In some situations, the words genial and cordial are roughly equivalent. However, genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.
The words gracious and cordial can be used in similar contexts, but gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.
While the synonyms sociable and cordial are close in meaning, sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.