Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective courteous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of courteous are chivalrous, civil, gallant, and polite. While all these words mean "observant of the forms required by good breeding," courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

When can chivalrous be used instead of courteous?

While in some cases nearly identical to courteous, chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

Where would civil be a reasonable alternative to courteous?

The words civil and courteous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

owed the questioner a civil reply

How are the words gallant and chivalrous related as synonyms of courteous?

Both 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

When could polite be used to replace courteous?

The meanings of polite and courteous largely overlap; however, 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

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 courteous Intense spiritual shift Boelter arrived at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota as a gangly teenager in the late summer of 1985, fresh from being named the friendliest and most courteous at his high school in the rural Minnesota town of Sleepy Eye. Dan Barry, Twin Cities, 21 July 2025 Rather than subtly asking whether an applicant is humble, courteous, and a good listener, this question’s first purpose is gleaning what a student truly cares about. Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025 Be kind, courteous, and patient, and hope that others respond likewise. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 July 2025 In Wisconsin, the Marcus Ridge Cinema advised fans to be courteous of other guests and to refrain from cheering during the movie. Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for courteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courteous
Adjective
  • These polite pleasantries waste precious attention.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Maikol Gabriel López Lizano was two years older than Acosta Peña, warm and polite.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Percussion and a choir imbued the ballad with a pulse, and the gracious Warren quickly turned to clap for the singers at song’s end.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The 63-year-old chef helms the kitchen at Vila Joya—the restaurant of a gracious boutique hotel in Portugal that shares its name—which earned one Michelin star in 1995 and a second in 1999.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Courteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courteous. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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