1
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
those bygone days when young women were taught how to drink tea while wearing long gloves and other genteel ways of behaving
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in civilized
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living
she grew up in genteel old Savannah
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station
the genteel ladies never mixed with the servants prohibited by reason of her genteel birth from marrying the man she loved
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4
as in gracious
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners
his genteel gesture of holding the door for the ladies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of genteel
His fiction is set all over the place—genteel backwaters like Miami, Hollywood, and Atlantic City, with excursions as far afield as the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Israel.
—
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Appropriately, the 31-year-old actress speaks with a genteel British accent—something that might surprise those who know her as Jinny St. George, the ambitious, new-money American girl in The Buccaneers, Apple TV+’s Gilded Age drama, which is currently in its second season.
—Paulina Prosnitz, Air Mail, 28 June 2025
As the three stories become more intertwined, the genteel politeness on display at the start of the film falls away, revealing an unsettling core.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Even much of the criticism of Musk was relatively genteel.
—Jake Lahut, Wired News, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Appropriately, the 31-year-old actress speaks with a genteel British accent—something that might surprise those who know her as Jinny St. George, the ambitious, new-money American girl in The Buccaneers, Apple TV+’s Gilded Age drama, which is currently in its second season.
—Paulina Prosnitz, Air Mail, 28 June 2025
As the three stories become more intertwined, the genteel politeness on display at the start of the film falls away, revealing an unsettling core.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Even much of the criticism of Musk was relatively genteel.
—Jake Lahut, Wired News, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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From a software engineering perspective, being polite is a waste of resources.—
Adrian Bridgwater,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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Just be polite and point out the issue at checkout.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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This is far, far beneath the dignity of a civilized society.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
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Honoring and showing gratitude to those who step up to help others regardless of their origins is one sign of a civilized society that recognizes the worth of all human beings.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Both Giulio, who comes from a Sicilian aristocratic family, and Ketty, who is more lower class, use lots of drugs — pot in particular.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
29 July 2025
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Luxury travelers can check into the aristocratic haven of Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli as soon as April 1, with superior rooms starting at 1,320 euros.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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The man was gifted, gracious, often generous and seldom mean-spirited.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
10 July 2025
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But goodness gracious, the Rockies are only (14-36) under Schaeffer after going 7-33 under Black.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Women being dismissed by their healthcare providers is another culprit, says Tran, and without proper exams and X-rays, the disease goes undetected.—
Marnie Goodfriend,
Flow Space,
25 July 2025
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The trooper found no proper registration for the vehicle.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The Renaissance ideal suggests a fine and cultured society, with its crowds of gay ladies and gentlemen devoted to the pleasures and elegances of life—which excites my admiration, but not my sympathies.—
Henry Wiencek
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
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Unfortunately, because these cells are difficult to grow and support outside of the body, cultured hydroxyapatite tends to be quite expensive.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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While the Packers’ support of Walker was noble, getting your head coach enraged is never a good idea.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
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On one hand, part of their appreciation for warning sirens lies in the noble purpose of preventing harm in the face of incipient natural disasters.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The art of divorce After Parliament passed the Matrimonial Causes Act in 1857, divorce became a matter for the civil courts, and therefore a viable option for a greater proportion of British society.—
Smithsonian Magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 July 2025
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On top of that, the company is facing criminal and civil Department of Justice investigations into its Medicare billing practices.—
Bertha Coombs,
CNBC,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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