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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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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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
Dinklage is particularly amusing as the giddy, genteel Prater, while Ritter balances wry disdain with flirtatious charm as Mia. Hall is, as always, entertaining as Dexter, delivering his character’s signature blend of deadpan humor and an earnest façade.
—
EW.com, 10 July 2025
There are contemporary costumes, hairstyles, props, scenic elements and characters’ line delivery, but central character Blanche DuBois seems to exist, both mentally and physically, in the more genteel South of the 1930s.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for genteel
EW.com, 10 July 2025
There are contemporary costumes, hairstyles, props, scenic elements and characters’ line delivery, but central character Blanche DuBois seems to exist, both mentally and physically, in the more genteel South of the 1930s.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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Throughout his unfortunately short life, Charlie committed himself unreservedly to reasoned debate, rational discourse, and the polite exchange of opinion.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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It is paneled in dark wood, the chairs are heavy leather and the murmur of polite, intelligent conversation hangs in the air.—
Benjamin D. Summers,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Butler and Malkovich turn bullying into hambone art, and Isaac magnetizes our sympathy as the daredevil but still relatively civilized Nick, who’s caught in the middle of all this.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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But the needs of civilized society have a way of intruding.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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When Coverley and the girls returned to England, in 1969, Lucian arranged for Bella to spend time with some aristocratic hippies who travelled around southern England in caravans.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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While its aristocratic history may be a thing of the past, the hotel (along with its grounds) does still exude the stately, elegant aura of a noble mansion.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Penalties on penalties on penalties, gracious hosts, UCLA’s 13 flags Friday gifted the Lobos 116 yards – running the season’s tally to 30 penalties for 275 yards.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
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Goodness gracious, what an adorable little burrito that kid is!—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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After the 1-0 win, Bright spoke to the media about being ‘proper English’.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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The proper name for the show is IAA Mobility 2025, short for Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Built with government backing, MICAS is part of a bid to attract more cultured and affluent travelers.—
Denny Lee,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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This suggests that whatever they are being used for is not happening often in these cultured cells.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tucked into the whispering meadows of the Netherlands, Hof van Saksen is a majestic eco-resort—a former noble estate reborn as a family-first urban oasis spanning over 160 lush acres.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The affection Agnes holds for her children and the anger aimed at her husband, not to mention a world cruel enough to rob her of a child, are both tuned with precision to crack your noble heart.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In July, a Santa Clara County jury ruled that Herchen had civil liability for the November 29, 2019 death of 36-year-old Alice Ku, who was last seen alive while the two were vacationing in the area of Hualien, Taiwan.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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