amicable

/ˈæmɪkəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæmɪkəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈa-mi-kə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

amicable — adjective

  • amicablepositive
  • more amicablecomparative
  • most amicablesuperlative

1. Describing dealings between people that stay warm and cooperative, even when the

1.形容詞C1
釋義

Describing dealings between people that stay warm and cooperative, even when they have reasons to disagree.

例句

After weeks of meetings, Noa and Minho kept the talks amicable.

pattern: keep the talks amicable

Even after the breakup, Brooke and Baraka stayed amicable for their son's sake.

pattern: stay amicable after conflict

同義詞
  • friendly

    More common and less formal; 'amicable' often appears in careful or official descriptions of relations.

  • cordial

    Suggests polite warmth, sometimes on the surface, while 'amicable' stresses the absence of hostility.

  • civil

    Can sound cooler and more restrained; 'amicable' usually implies a more genuinely cooperative mood.

反義詞
  • hostile

    Shows open anger or opposition rather than calm cooperation.

  • bitter

    Emphasises deep resentment, especially after a conflict or separation.

文法句型

amicable + relationship/conversation/tone

be + amicable

remain + amicable

用法筆記

Most often describes relationships, conversations, or tone between people who could easily become hostile. Distinguish from sense 2, which focuses on the agreement or result itself.

常見錯誤

❌My manager is very amicable.
✅My manager is very friendly.
💡'Amicable' usually describes a relationship, conversation, or atmosphere, not someone's general personality.
❌They had an amicable argument in the meeting.
✅They had an amicable discussion in the meeting.
💡'Amicable' suggests people stayed calm and cooperative, so it does not fit an openly hostile quarrel.

2. Describing a plan, result, or arrangement that people reach calmly, without a bi

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Describing a plan, result, or arrangement that people reach calmly, without a bitter quarrel.

例句

The company and union reached an amicable settlement before the strike began.

collocation: amicable settlement

Their lawyer suggested an amicable solution that avoided a costly trial.

collocation: amicable solution

同義詞
  • peaceful

    Broader and more general; 'amicable' specifically suggests calm agreement between sides.

  • harmonious

    Stresses balance and smooth relations, while 'amicable' often points to a settlement after possible conflict.

  • cooperative

    Focuses more on how people work together; 'amicable' here describes the outcome they finally reach.

反義詞
  • contentious

    Involves strong disagreement or argument instead of calm agreement.

  • acrimonious

    Formal opposite that suggests angry, bitter dispute.

文法句型

amicable + agreement/settlement/solution

be + amicable

reach + an amicable + noun

用法筆記

Most often modifies nouns such as 'agreement', 'settlement', 'solution', and 'split'. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes the relationship or tone between people rather than the outcome they reach.

常見錯誤

❌The judge gave an amicable punishment.
✅The two sides reached an amicable settlement.
💡This sense is used for agreements or outcomes reached peacefully, not for penalties.
❌We need an amicable teacher for the class dispute.
✅We need an amicable solution for the class dispute.
💡This sense describes a result or arrangement, not a person.