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Congeniality is the quality of being pleasant and agreeable.

Someone who’s known for their congeniality is friendly, nice, and easy to get along with. Such a person can be described as congenial.

The word congeniality is typically used to refer to a quality of a person, but it can also be used to refer to the quality of a situation or environment, as in We try to maintain a sense of congeniality and camaraderie in the office. 

Less commonly, congeniality can refer to the quality of being well matched, as in It’s a friendship based on congeniality—they share several interests. The word compatibility is a close synonym of this sense of congeniality.

Example: Jess is known around town for her congeniality—she has a kind word for everyone she meets.

The first records of the word congeniality come from the 1600s. The suffix -ity is used in nouns to indicate a state or condition. The base word, congenial, is essentially a combination of con-, meaning “same” or “together,” and genial, meaning “warmly and pleasantly cheerful,” from the Latin ����Ծ��������, “festive, jovial, pleasant.”

The words congeniality and geniality can be used as synonyms. The title Miss Congeniality refers to an award given in some pageants to the contestant voted as having the most pleasant personality. It’s also sometimes used in a figurative way to refer to a person who is being extra friendly or in an ironic way to someone who is being disagreeable.

What are some other forms related to congeniality?

• uncongeniality (noun)
• congenial (adjective)

What are some synonyms for congeniality?

• geniality
• affability
• conviviality
• amiableness
• cordiality
• agreeability
• friendliness

What are some words that share a root or word element with congeniality?��

• genial
• genius

What are some words that often get used in discussing congeniality?

• friendly
• agreeable
• pleasant
• nice
• warm
• miss
• award
• win

Congeniality is always used in a positive way. A lot of people know the word from the title Miss Congeniality (which is also the name of a movie).

Saddened by the news of Louise Slaughter's passing. In a public service career that began in 1976, Louise set an example for her fellow colleagues in her tenacity & bipartisan congeniality, as well as for other women with aspirations of running for office.

— Charlie Dent (@RepCharlieDent)

"I've never worked in an atmosphere like this ever, there is a huge amount of congeniality here, a huge amount of support and everyone is working together…"

— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie)

Since we need more kindness and congeniality, congratulations to Dodgers fans. Particularly eight-time cable car bell ringing champ Byron Cobb who is probably as well-known for his ever-present Dodgers cap as he is for his bell ringing.

— Heather Knight (@hknightsf)

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of congeniality?

A. affability

B. conviviality

C. incompatibility

D. geniality