What's the difference between amicable and cordial?

Amicable


Definition:

  • (a.) Friendly; proceeding from, or exhibiting, friendliness; after the manner of friends; peaceable; as, an amicable disposition, or arrangement.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) We regret this situation has resulted in litigation, however it is our sincere hope that the matter can be resolved amicably.
  • (2) On his sitting-room wall are some lines from the Bible, a photograph of his two teenage daughters (he is separated from their mother, with whom they live, and you gather that the split, which took place after what he calls his 'accident', was not entirely amicable), and the world championship belt that Nigel Benn gave him.
  • (3) Luc Coene, the central bank governor of Belgium, said an "amicable divorce" was possible, while Ireland's central bank governor, Patrick Honohan, said it would be "not necessarily fatal but it is not attractive".
  • (4) The couple have "an amicable relationship for the sake of the children".
  • (5) Close friends with Ed Balls and Lord Mandelson, the Murdochs and BBC business editor Robert Peston, Rudd was seen as the go-between who brought together New Labour and the City; it was a pairing that was to end not entirely amicably.
  • (6) The judges whittled down the 152 entries to six in an amicable fashion, Macfarlane said.
  • (7) It said the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, and foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, had sought a six-month adjournment in September in an attempt to allow the two countries “to seek an amicable settlement”.
  • (8) Amicably organized mice initially did not attack strangers, but over a period of 25 days the number of attacks on unfamiliar males gradually increased.
  • (9) In private, senior Greek officials say their preference would be to find an amicable solution with western lenders.
  • (10) In its annual report the PCC said that it "amicably settled" 544 complaints in 2010 – down from 609 successfully resolved complaints in 2009.
  • (11) Three amylase phenotypes, AmIB, AmIC, and AmIBC, were detected by electrophoresis of blood serum from 329 Holstein cattle.
  • (12) Amal Clooney, the human rights lawyer, has said it is only prudent that Greece seeks legal advice in its attempt to reclaim the Parthenon marbles from the British Museum , but hopes an amicable solution can be found to the decades-long dispute.
  • (13) But in a sign of the amicable tone of the talks, the two sides have in the meantime signed a co-operation agreement and begun the process of seeking approval from competition authorities in Brussels – although UK competition officials could request jurisdiction.
  • (14) In this situation, divorce from the EU would probably be relatively amicable and require a negotiated free trade agreement.
  • (15) It was agreed that the chancellor would remain in first class and an amount of £189.50 was paid by the aide to cover the upgrade for Mr Osborne and his PA. "The situation was dealt with amicably between the train manager and George Osborne's aide.
  • (16) This club has helped me fulfil my dreams over and over again.” Although Gerrard insists his decision to part company with Liverpool has been “very amicable”, the admission that he would have signed an extension had one been on the table in the summer raises fresh questions over Fenway Sports Group’s handling of the situation.
  • (17) I hope that an amicable solution to this issue can be found, given the longstanding friendship between Greece and the UK,” she said, adding that she and her colleagues, Geoffrey Robertson and Norman Palmer, QCs and specialists in cultural restitution, had initially been approached by the Greek authorities three years ago.
  • (18) Despite interest from Real Madrid , Suárez's preferred destination should he leave Anfield, there was no suggestion from Guardiola that his client has a move in the pipeline during the planned and amicable meeting.
  • (19) The situation was dealt with amicably between the train manager and George Osborne's aide.
  • (20) Yet under Macmillan, employment was neglible and prices stable: government worked amicably with organised labour, and the living standards of trade unionists increased far more rapidly than they were to do in the 1970s and 1980s.

Cordial


Definition:

  • (a.) Proceeding from the heart.
  • (a.) Hearty; sincere; warm; affectionate.
  • (a.) Tending to revive, cheer, or invigorate; giving strength or spirits.
  • (n.) Anything that comforts, gladdens, and exhilarates.
  • (n.) Any invigorating and stimulating preparation; as, a peppermint cordial.
  • (n.) Aromatized and sweetened spirit, used as a beverage; a liqueur.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) The low pH carbonated drink, coca-cola, and a blackcurrent cordial produced no effects.
  • (2) As the final whistle blew, Wenger, suddenly wreathed in smiles, hugged his staff, players and even Alan Pardew, a managerial rival with whom he has not always enjoyed the most cordial of technical area relations.
  • (3) The prime minister arrived in Brussels on Tuesday lunchtime for what was expected to be his final set-piece EU summit before he steps down promising that that UK would remain cordial in the exit talks.
  • (4) Non-carbonated, low-calorie soft drink concentrates (cordials), when diluted according to manufacturers' instructions, had significant antibacterial effects in vitro.
  • (5) On the surface, US-South African relations are cordial and have improved since the presidencies of George Bush and Thabo Mbeki, though Washington's intervention in Libya alienated many here.
  • (6) Naturally contaminated water can be rendered potable by incubation with cordials at room temperature for 1 h. This may be a way to reduce the risk of water-borne diarrhoea, particularly where the cleanliness of drinking waters cannot be otherwise assured, for example when making up oral rehydration fluids and for travellers in high-risk areas.
  • (7) Yet Clements still has to deal with the Sassenachs down at the ITV network centre on a weekly basis, saying that relationships are "on a professional and personal level very cordial".
  • (8) Both sides will inevitably stress the friendly, cordial nature of the Downing Street meeting, and Hollande's style is conciliatory and non-confrontational.
  • (9) The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, who spoke on the phone with Marois in what was described as a "cordial first contact", said he was "angered and saddened" by the shooting.
  • (10) In the intervening year of can-kicking, you could argue that nothing's changed in terms of the options offered, from Brussels and Frankfurt, to Athens: they are still cordially enjoined to stick with the programme or leave the euro, and that programme is still one that nobody with a real choice would ever vote for.
  • (11) Cordiality, an easy intimacy with the Brazilian people and the game of football could only get a president so far.
  • (12) With allegations of cheap practice flying like left hooks around the Olympic boxing tournament, it took an Englishman and an Irishman to settle their legitimate sporting argument with admirable cordiality, Luke Campbell getting the better of John Joe Nevin to win Great Britain's 28th gold medal of the Games.
  • (13) A toast, marmalade optional, to Colin Firth, who has quit a film version of Paddington with a grace befitting this most cordial of bears.
  • (14) Coyle is a parliamentary newbie elected only in May, so we might cordially warn him and all those Labour and Conservative MPs who have shrieked about “bullying” that they spent this week in presentational danger of reducing a bombing campaign to what Alfred Hitchcock called a MacGuffin – “a plot device that motivates the characters and advances the story”, but which is often unimportant in itself.
  • (15) But it shouldn’t be too much to ask for cordial and businesslike relations to be established with Jewish groups.
  • (16) But it is understood that while Ivanovic appreciated the call, which was cordial, he stopped short of accepting the apology.
  • (17) After the event Crowley described the discussion as "cordial and positive".
  • (18) Last month, in a report of Sarkozy's visit to Berlin to discuss the Greek crisis, Der Spiegel wrote: "The welcome will once again appear very cordial… Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel will also work the cameras this time around … a kiss on the left cheek, a peck on the right one, smiles and waving.
  • (19) Alban said she held "cordial and constructive" talks with the government at the FCO.
  • (20) But experts say the public enthusiasm masks profound suspicions and even animosity and believe the behind-the-scenes conversations have the potential to be far less cordial.