harmonious
/hɑːˈməʊ.ni.əs/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
A harmonious relationship, group, or place is peaceful and works well together. Parts fit together nicely, with little conflict or noise.
- They have a harmonious marriage.
- The colours create a harmonious effect.
- The team became more harmonious after the meeting.
Adinary Nuance
Harmonious is close to peaceful, balanced, and agreeable, but it suggests a pleasing fit between people, sounds, or colours. Use it when different parts work together smoothly, not just when there is no fighting. It often sounds a little more formal than peaceful.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hài hòa
- Spanish
- armonioso
- Chinese
- 和谐的
- Japanese
- 調和のとれた
- Korean
- 조화로운
Etymology
Harmonious comes from Greek harmonia, meaning 'agreement' or 'joining'. It entered English through Latin and French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
a harmonious relationshipharmonious coloursa harmonious blendharmonious living
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is harmonious the same as peaceful?
- Not exactly. Peaceful means calm and without trouble. Harmonious means calm, and also nicely matched or working well together.
- Can I use harmonious for colours or design?
- Yes. It is common for colours, music, design, and rooms that look good together.
- Is harmonious formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal, but common in writing and speech. It works well in academic and business English.
- What is the noun form of harmonious?
- The noun is harmony. For example: 'There was harmony in the team.'