COURTEOUSLY Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

courteously

adverb

Definition of courteously

as in kindly

with good reason or courtesy courteously suggested that we try other bookstores

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 courteously Two inspectors knocked on doors and spoke courteously to surprised visitors who displayed booking contracts on their phones, the inspectors’ bodycam footage showed. — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 When a visitor arrives in a classroom, a classroom ambassador welcomes them, introduces himself and the subject being taught, and courteously asks for the visitor’s name and affiliation. — Walter Fields, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for courteously

Adverb

Members of the Scepter, which have been rocking Ottawa since 2018, also reflected kindly on the experience.

— Debbie Day, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
Flood kindly took on all the engineering duties, which freed me up to be in the band room with Eno.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of kindly

Adverb

Offensive notes Tommy DeVito settled in nicely after sailing some early throws.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Anna’s sheer lace dress with a huge keyhole in the front and an open back is fine but also like a million other dresses; the same goes for Jude’s nicely constructed, but very familiar, black velvet dress with a corset.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of nicely

Adverb

And today’s opportunity is to scale those gains thoughtfully, so these early pockets of progress deliver broader, more consistent impact along an end-to-end patient journey.

— Jeff DiLullo, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
During the decision-making process, the floor is open for anyone in the room to challenge ideas thoughtfully.

— Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of thoughtfully

Adverb

Most failures are administrative, and most people fix them when asked politely.

— George Kapernaros, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Early automotive lamps were less like searchlights and more like dim lanterns politely suggesting that there may or may not be a vehicle present.

— Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of politely

Browse Nearby Words

courteous

courteously

courteousness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Courteously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courteously. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of courteously

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

zeugma

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes