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Benign vs Affable - What's the difference?

benign | affable |

Affable is a synonym of benign.



As adjectives the difference between benign and affable

is that benign is kind; gentle; mild while affable is receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable.

benign

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Kind; gentle; mild.
  • * (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable
  • * not harmful to the environment: [in combination] an ozone-benign refrigerant.
  • (medicine) Not posing any serious threat to health; not particularly aggressive or recurrent.

    • Antonyms

    * malign * malignant

    Derived terms

    * benignly * benignant * benignity * benign neglect * benign tumor

    affable

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable.
  • * 1912 : James Burrill Angell, , chapter ix "Mission To The Ottoman Empire"
    • Furthermore, I may say, that the Sultan was always most affable to me in my interviews with him, even when I had to discuss some missionary questions. In fact, I never saw any traces of the difficulties which Mr. Terrell reported.
  • Mild; benign.
  • * 1998 : Alexia Maria Kosmider, Tricky Tribal Discourse , page 84
    • During more affable weather, the four friends congregate outside, sometimes leaning their hickory chairs against a "catapa" tree...

    Synonyms

    * accessible, civil, complaisant, courteous, friendly, gracious * benign, mild, warm

    Derived terms

    * affability * affableness * affably