in polite society/company
idiom
: with people who value good manners
Certain words should not be used in polite society/company.
Examples of in polite society/company in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lemon fostered the idea that true neutrality toward religion requires the same governments that celebrate everything from National Catfish Day to Presidents Day to pretend that the religious roots of American culture don’t belong in polite society.
—
William J. Haun, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2022
Because in polite society, when someone tries to give you something, the gracious thing to do is accept it.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2021
While her brother trained as a doctor and returned to the Caribbean, Mary stayed in England and moved in polite society.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2021
Omai was feted in polite society, his courtesy and elegance widely admired.
—Adam Kuper, WSJ, 25 June 2021
Whodunnits tend to express common kinds of guilt that are not discussed in polite society.
—Jo Livingstone, The New Republic, 30 May 2021
Still, there’s liberation here that the touched don’t have in polite society.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2021
As no one should be talking about money in polite society anyway, Miss Manners will permit you to escape.
—Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2020
The seismic social and style changes that the late ’60s ushered in finally killed the idea that everyone had to glove up in polite society, relegating gloves mostly to winter utility or garden sheds.
—Jennifer Barger, National Geographic, 7 July 2020
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William J. Haun, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2022
Because in polite society, when someone tries to give you something, the gracious thing to do is accept it.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2021
While her brother trained as a doctor and returned to the Caribbean, Mary stayed in England and moved in polite society.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2021
Omai was feted in polite society, his courtesy and elegance widely admired.
—Adam Kuper, WSJ, 25 June 2021
Whodunnits tend to express common kinds of guilt that are not discussed in polite society.
—Jo Livingstone, The New Republic, 30 May 2021
Still, there’s liberation here that the touched don’t have in polite society.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2021
As no one should be talking about money in polite society anyway, Miss Manners will permit you to escape.
—Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2020
The seismic social and style changes that the late ’60s ushered in finally killed the idea that everyone had to glove up in polite society, relegating gloves mostly to winter utility or garden sheds.
—Jennifer Barger, National Geographic, 7 July 2020
Cite this Entry
“In polite society/company.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20polite%20society%2Fcompany. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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