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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in gracious
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners
his genteel gesture of holding the door for the ladies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 genteel
There will be others who feel this level of passion is good for a sport that can be too genteel for some people’s tastes.
—
Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Bournemouth were portrayed as a fairytale; a small club from a genteel resort town on England’s south coast who climbed through the divisions playing their football in a tippy-tappy way, led by their youthful, clean-cut manager.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Bassist Horace Panter was from the genteel middle-class market town of Kettering.
—Ian Penman, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
And while Carter’s post-Presidential legacy often receives kinder praise than those of his actions in office, his genteel approach and appreciation for the country’s youth offered a necessary antidote to the bullish egos of previous administrations.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Bournemouth were portrayed as a fairytale; a small club from a genteel resort town on England’s south coast who climbed through the divisions playing their football in a tippy-tappy way, led by their youthful, clean-cut manager.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Bassist Horace Panter was from the genteel middle-class market town of Kettering.
—Ian Penman, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
And while Carter’s post-Presidential legacy often receives kinder praise than those of his actions in office, his genteel approach and appreciation for the country’s youth offered a necessary antidote to the bullish egos of previous administrations.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
-
Wear old clothes and shoes Bring flashlights Watch for sharp objects Avoid food waste Wash your hands Be polite and cooperate if you are asked to leave The Fresno Bee 559-441-6005 Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter.—
Fernanda Galan,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Which felt like a polite way of saying the same thing.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The education of a nation’s citizenry, whether public or private, is the heartbeat of any sustaining and civilized culture.—
Patricia A. Daniel,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Apr. 2025
-
What started as a civilized, postwork affair with a sushi station escalated for many of the guests as more and more martinis were drunk from Madeline’s martini bar.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The original show’s focus was Thomas Ravenel and Shep Rose, two male members of the aristocratic class in South Carolina.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Essence,
11 Apr. 2025
-
But by the 18th century the Republic of Venice was in decline, and some aristocratic families, though still noble in name, had lost much of their wealth and could not afford a substantial dowry.—
Manuela Callari,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The draft will be held in Green Bay, and the NFL always brings in collegians who figure to be taken high, so Commissioner Roger Goodell can be the gracious host and hug them after they’re picked.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Rose was gracious as ever after his second straight time finishing second in a major, having lost out at Royal Troon last summer.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
By advocating for proper funding, schools will be able to take innovative approaches to increasing literacy rates, as well as seeing gains in math.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Just cut the tubing to the proper length and wrap it around the cables.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Neither Eriksson nor Capello seemed particularly determined to evolve the style of play and make England a more cultured footballing side.—
Michael Cox,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Wilk, an Israeli venture, focuses on producing cultured milk fats, used in making cheese and yogurt.—
Daphne Ewing-Chow,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The coat of arms above serves as the door for the ‘most noble, most loyal, most valiant and always loyal’.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
-
But even if Van Hollen’s motivation for going to El Salvador was less than noble, the truth is there are things more important than the political fight of the day.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The disastrous event led to its organizer pleading guilty to wire fraud and settling a class-action civil suit.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
-
These may stem from high levels of crime, civil unrest, or health issues.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share