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
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2
as in civilized
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living
she grew up in genteel old Savannah
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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
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4
as in gracious
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners
his genteel gesture of holding the door for the ladies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of genteel
Kirchner and others, who’d met in the PauseAI Discord server, thought that that genteel approach was insufficient.
—
Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
Starring Miami Vice legend Don Johnson as the genteel Captain Robert Massey, Doctor Odyssey made waves for its provocative inclusion of a throuple at the core of the drama.
—Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Dec. 2025
Photography was not an unusual hobby for a young woman of her milieu, and many of Austen’s early images depict a world of genteel Victorian amusements—parties gathered on porches and scenic overlooks, happy pugs, sunny days in leg-of-mutton sleeves.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025
The series offers Whitford his latest opportunity to express general bemusement with the American political process, this time sporting a bushy white beard, and Whigham his latest opportunity to be an uncouth bull in an otherwise genteel china shop.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
Starring Miami Vice legend Don Johnson as the genteel Captain Robert Massey, Doctor Odyssey made waves for its provocative inclusion of a throuple at the core of the drama.
—Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Dec. 2025
Photography was not an unusual hobby for a young woman of her milieu, and many of Austen’s early images depict a world of genteel Victorian amusements—parties gathered on porches and scenic overlooks, happy pugs, sunny days in leg-of-mutton sleeves.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025
The series offers Whitford his latest opportunity to express general bemusement with the American political process, this time sporting a bushy white beard, and Whigham his latest opportunity to be an uncouth bull in an otherwise genteel china shop.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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This said, the movers were very polite and respectful and removed all of the excess packing.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
7 Jan. 2026
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Among her trio of old friends on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, Kate is the polite peacekeeper.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Utilizing a far more civilized system, the host at the stand in front of the restaurant gives diners an oddly accurate time to return.—
Joel Stein,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
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Here was a foolish and incompetent tribune of the nation’s racist vulgarians, opposed by the prosperous and the well educated, the civilized and the tolerant.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Playing an aristocratic roaring 20s era sleuth that Christie loosely based on her younger self is certainly far removed from chugging shots on the shores of Malia — even the party scenes.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
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The 18th-century aristocratic villa also offers scenic horse rides through the foothills of Mount Etna.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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According to Cazenave, pathways that feel effortless with furniture not hugging the walls help the room feel immediately more gracious.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
12 Jan. 2026
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And the sole creator of this life is my gracious friend, the savior who leads me to a new religion, a religion that brings forth a second, new life from deep within me—a life that knows not death!—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Without proper hydration, fibermaxxing can cause constipation, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating and gas, Syn said.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
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Yet the first episode drags on a bit, laying a ton of groundwork and backstory before the proper investigation begins.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Crème fraiche is a rich, cultured cream with a high butterfat content and mild, tangy flavor.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
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Natural pearls, which, unlike cultured pearls, form spontaneously without human intervention, have become increasingly rare.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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By splicing pop songs and familiar meme formats into cruel detainment footage, ICE strains to attract a younger demographic, hoping to convince people that the agency is a vibrant—and trollishly funny—organization engaged in the noble work of putting away bad guys.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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In this case, focusing on a dress versus the altruistic work Turner is doing feels like an attempt to discredit that very noble work.—
Essence,
Essence,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Constitutional law professor David Schultz, who has taught a class on police, criminal and civil procedure, has some answers.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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But the memory of decades-long civil unrest, largely ended by a peace agreement signed in 2016, is still fresh enough to provide a real-life context for Teddy’s machinations.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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