cordial

Friendly and warm towards other people.

• They gave us a cordial welcome.
• Relations between the neighbors remained cordial.
• Despite their disagreement, the meeting was cordial.

How to use it: cordial to someone (The hosts were cordial to every guest.)

Similar words: friendly, warm, genial

Opposites: unfriendly, hostile

Common phrases: cordial welcome, cordial relations, cordial atmosphere

Strongly and sincerely felt, whether the feeling is pleasant or unpleasant.

• She offered her cordial thanks.
• He had a cordial dislike of noisy celebrations.
• Their letters expressed cordial affection for their old teacher.

Similar words: heartfelt, sincere, hearty

Opposites: insincere

Common phrases: cordial dislike, cordial hatred, cordial thanks

A sweet, strong liquid, often made from fruit, that you mix with water to make a drink.

• Add water to the cordial.
• She bought a bottle of blackcurrant cordial.
• We make elderflower cordial every spring.

Similar words: squash

Common phrases: blackcurrant cordial, elderflower cordial, dilute the cordial

A serving of a sweet drink made by mixing fruit concentrate with water.

• I'll have a cordial, please.
• She served three orange cordials with ice.
• He drank a cold cordial after his walk.

Common phrases: a cold cordial, order a cordial, two orange cordials

A sweet alcoholic drink flavored by soaking fruit, herbs, or other ingredients in alcohol.

• They offered us a cherry cordial.
• She sipped her cordial after dinner.
• These cordials are made by soaking herbs in alcohol.

Similar words: liqueur

Common phrases: cherry cordial, herbal cordial, sip a cordial

A medicine with a pleasant taste, traditionally given to make someone feel stronger.

• The doctor gave her a cordial.
• He took a spoonful of the sweet cordial.
• Such cordials were once sold as remedies for weakness.

Similar words: tonic

Common phrases: medicinal cordial, herbal cordial, restorative cordial