Library / English Dictionary

GOOD-NATURED

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having an easygoing and cheerful disposition

Example:

the sounds of good-natured play

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

amiable; good-humored; good-humoured (disposed to please)

equable; even-tempered; good-tempered; placid (not easily irritated)

Also:

agreeable (conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature)

kind (having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior)

pleasant (affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings)

Attribute:

nature (the complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions)

Antonym:

ill-natured (having an irritable and unpleasant disposition)

Derivation:

good-naturedness (a cheerful willingness to be obliging)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Mr. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The perplexity was strong in her good-natured face.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

As Dorothy bade the good-natured Guardian a last farewell she said: I have been very kindly treated in your lovely City, and everyone has been good to me.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

She was very good-natured, and not above forty feet high, being little for her age.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Mary is good-natured enough in many respects, said she; but she does sometimes provoke me excessively, by her nonsense and pride—the Elliot pride.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

But he did not have it in him to be angry with the love-master, and when that god elected to laugh at him in a good-natured, bantering way, he was nonplussed.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Feeling friendly, kind, or good-natured.

(Pleasant, NCI Thesaurus)

Though unworthy, from inferiority of age and strength, to be their constant associate, their pleasures and schemes were sometimes of a nature to make a third very useful, especially when that third was of an obliging, yielding temper; and they could not but own, when their aunt inquired into her faults, or their brother Edmund urged her claims to their kindness, that Fanny was good-natured enough.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

“That was very good-natured of you,” said Catherine, quite pleased.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Elton is very good-natured and agreeable, and I dare say her acquaintance are just what they ought to be.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)