Amiable and Amicable

The words amiable and amicable are often confused.

Amiable is usually used to describe persons and amicable is used to describe actions, gestures, etc.

Examples:

The next door neighbors are amiable persons.

Amiable neighbors help make a house a home.

The hostess was an amiable woman.

The union and the company reached an amicable settlement in their contract dispute.

We must find an amicable solution to the problem.

If wars are to end, nations must find amicable means to settle their disputes.