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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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
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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
But that proves more easily said than done when Ulysses starts to notice a few cracks in Normal’s genteel exterior.
—
Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2025
Giving Wickham a nice holiday tan would be a bridge too far for the genteel world of Jane Austen.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025
Unexpected for everyone but Nancy, who has secretly invited a genteel Italian émigré and her eligible grandson to dinner, in hopes of fixing up her unwed pregnant granddaughter with a suitable partner.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2025
But the energy here is vastly different, with Morgan’s genteel suburbanite hazily floating through this next chapter in her life.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2025
Giving Wickham a nice holiday tan would be a bridge too far for the genteel world of Jane Austen.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025
Unexpected for everyone but Nancy, who has secretly invited a genteel Italian émigré and her eligible grandson to dinner, in hopes of fixing up her unwed pregnant granddaughter with a suitable partner.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2025
But the energy here is vastly different, with Morgan’s genteel suburbanite hazily floating through this next chapter in her life.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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Always speaking calmly with a polite smile and a distinct Italian accent, Bassetti could easily be described as an iron fist in a velvet glove.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
6 Oct. 2025
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The rather polite 47-year-old Englishman remained transfixed on the massive video board down the hill.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The latter were also perhaps more civilized, given the influence of Audi’s 1998 acquisition.—
Iain Macauley,
Robb Report,
8 Oct. 2025
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Get free or cheap coffee without leaving your house, like a civilized person in the age of the internet.—
Matthew Korfhage,
Wired News,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Jessica Capshaw as Blythe HartCapshaw plays Blythe, Don's wife and the matriarch of an aristocratic Nashville family.—
Bryan West,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Oct. 2025
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His aristocratic tastes are reflected in his various building projects, the remains of which have been excavated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The flagship offers an expansive collection of wallcoverings, rugs, furniture, and more, and aims to capture the welcoming, gracious environment the brand is known for while signaling its evolution.—
Sydney Gore,
Architectural Digest,
29 Sep. 2025
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But these aren’t gods in oh-so-gracious robes or with armor or holding lightning bolts in their hands.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Rogers police sent out a news release Thursday about Act 557 of 2025, which allows people get their money back from the kiosks if people follow the proper procedures.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
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Equipment is not maintained in good repair or does not allow for proper adjustment (Condensation build-up inside of reach-in cooler).—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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No embryos were cultured beyond this point.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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Bahrain fiercely guards its reputation for natural pearls, having banned the production of cultured versions in 1928, soon after they’d been devised by Kokichi Mikimoto.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But the filmmakers’ motivations for glomming on to Ed are depicted as being noble.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Oct. 2025
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Plus, the great David Thewlis will make his first appearance as Peylak, noble leader of the Wind Traders tribe.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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European officials have also been warning about other hybrid threats and suspect Moscow was behind a string of incidents, including the sabotage of an undersea cable, cyberattacks, GPS jamming of civil aviation, and even acts of arson.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
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Dale Ellis covers the federal courthouse beat for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, reporting on criminal and civil matters that impact Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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