Thesaurus

courteous

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of courteous

showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners

their customer service department always gives courteous responses, even to rude people

Synonyms of courteous

civil, genteel, gracious, mannerly, polite, well-bred

Words Related to courteous

attentive, careful, considerate, nice, solicitous, thoughtful

chivalrous, civilized, courtly, gallant, gentlemanlike, gentlemanly, ladylike

ceremonial, ceremonious, red-carpet

couth, formal, smooth, suave, unctuous, urbane

elegant, refined

deferential, dutiful, respectful, submissive, yielding

acceptable, appropriate, becoming, befitting, comme il faut, correct, decent, decorous, fit, fitting, good, meet, proper, respectable, right, seemly, suitable

affable, cordial, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant, sociable

felicitous, graceful

demure, humble, meek, modest, unassertive

Near Antonyms of courteous

heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless

audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassy, disrespectful, impertinent, impudent, insolent, lippy, saucy, shameless

boorish, churlish, clodhopping, clownish, loutish, uncouth, vulgar

casual, informal, unceremonious

improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, uncalled-for, unrespectable, unseemly

arrogant, conceited, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious

Antonyms of courteous

discourteous, ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, inconsiderate, mannerless, rude, thoughtless, uncivil, ungenteel, ungracious, unmannered, unmannerly

Synonym Discussion of courteous

civil, polite, courteous, gallant, chivalrous mean observant of the forms required by good breeding. civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

- owed the questioner a civil reply

polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

- if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

- clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.

- a gallant suitor of the old school

chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

- a chivalrous display of duty

Learn More about courteous

Dictionary: Definition of courteous Spanish Central: Translation of courteous Nglish: Translation of courteous for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of courteous for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up courteous? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

linchpin

one that holds something together

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games