gracious

adjective

ˈgrā-shəs How to pronounce gracious (audio)
Definition of graciousnext
1
as in hospitable
showing a natural kindness and courtesy especially in social situations a gracious host who goes out of his way to make every guest feel welcome

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pleasant
having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations a gracious innkeeper whose jokes and laughter made weary travelers feel right at home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in polite
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners he was a gracious man, habitually offering his seat on the bus to elderly women

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gracious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of gracious are affable, cordial, genial, and sociable. While all these words mean "markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse," gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.

the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues

When is it sensible to use affable instead of gracious?

Although the words affable and gracious have much in common, affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.

though wealthy, she was affable to all

Where would cordial be a reasonable alternative to gracious?

In some situations, the words cordial and gracious are roughly equivalent. However, cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.

our host was cordial as he greeted us

When might genial be a better fit than gracious?

The meanings of genial and gracious largely overlap; however, genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.

a genial companion with a ready quip

When could sociable be used to replace gracious?

The synonyms sociable and gracious are sometimes interchangeable, but sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.

sociable people who enjoy entertaining

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gracious Through gracious moves and quiet motion, his presence adds more drama to a simple image. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 My colleagues were more than gracious enough to take some time out of their day to taste-test copious amounts of chocolate. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026 Vintage dance is especially appealing to people looking for that brief escape to times and places that seem more gracious and friendly than our own, Powers said. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026 The neighborhood feels worlds away from typical Miami—gracious, walkable, and utterly timeless. —Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gracious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gracious
  1. hospitable
  2. pleasant
  3. polite
  4. friendly
  5. nice
  6. thoughtful
  7. kindly
  8. sweet
Adjective
  • As hospitable as the whole Slagsvol family is, the episode really revolves around Austen and Salley and Craig and Charley, like some Dollar Store version of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Notably, young calves have thinner blubber and more limited thermal insulation than adults, which makes warmer breeding areas much more hospitable than the frigid Arctic seas.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of hospitable
Adjective
  • Dry, pleasant weather returns over the weekend for Valentine's Day, with high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s, light winds and mostly sunny skies.
    — Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • If this feels outside of your comfort zone, opt for a simple, pleasant one-line opening.
    — Outside, Outside, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • Jim Dickinson stepped in to produce and play a little piano, but Travis deemed the results too polished, too polite, too bourgeois.
    — Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Messy is a polite way to describe the silos of vitriol that have turned hate into a national pastime.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • Next, environmentally friendly chemicals convert the rare earths from solid to liquid form, allowing selective separation.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Per capita income was just $4,000, and the government once tried to bribe me to provide more friendly coverage.
    — Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of friendly
Adjective
  • The potluck is chaotic but really nice.
    — R29 Team, Refinery29, 11 Feb. 2026
  • And if there is a next step, that would be nice.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of nice
Adjective
  • And thanks to a thoughtful renovation, this particular farmhouse is ready to begin its next chapter.
    — Miriam Schwartz, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
  • In his view, growth means extending the reach of a thoughtful approach while preserving the personal relationships that define his work.
    — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • Ben always said a kindly face was difficult to mistrust.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Jenna and Kevin, the warring magazine writers, seek refuge at The Winters Inn, a quaint bed and breakfast owned by the kindly Christopher and Carol Winters.
    — Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 25 Nov. 2025
Definition of kindly
Adjective
  • This crowd pleaser, invented by bartender Sam Ross in 2008, gets its charm from two different bittersweet Italian liqueurs, even though the resulting cocktail is neither particularly bitter nor sweet.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Mandarins Mandarins, including clementines and tangerines, are smaller, sweeter, and easier to peel than regular oranges.
    — Zia Sherrell, Health, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of sweet

Browse Nearby Words

graciosos
gracious
graciously
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Cite this Entry

“Gracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gracious. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gracious

Nglish: Translation of gracious for Spanish Speakers

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