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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
This spring, however, that genteel exterior is concealing a quietly competitive market underneath.
—
John Walkup, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Be Courtesy To Other Shoppers To a Southerner, manners are top of mind, so pushing, shoving, and being rude over buying things doesn’t jive with a genteel way of life.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
While golf is a genteel sport, Dunlap describes himself almost like an adrenaline junkie.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
But underneath this genteel surface are bitter divisions that erupted just as the institution struggled to recover from the worst event ever to happen on its campus, when Salman Rushdie was nearly killed onstage by a knife-wielding jihadist in August 2022.
—Christopher Maag, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
John Walkup, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Be Courtesy To Other Shoppers To a Southerner, manners are top of mind, so pushing, shoving, and being rude over buying things doesn’t jive with a genteel way of life.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
While golf is a genteel sport, Dunlap describes himself almost like an adrenaline junkie.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
But underneath this genteel surface are bitter divisions that erupted just as the institution struggled to recover from the worst event ever to happen on its campus, when Salman Rushdie was nearly killed onstage by a knife-wielding jihadist in August 2022.
—Christopher Maag, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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Showing empathy and being polite, even in frustrating situations, can help de-escalate potential conflicts.—
Milad Haghani,
CNN Money,
6 June 2025
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Dishes are refined but never polite, taking all the risks Cornerstone didn’t have the backing to take.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Adjective
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Whatever one believes, violence for political ends has no place in a civilized society.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
3 June 2025
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Exile away from the rest of the civilized federation.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Period dramas like Bridgerton, The Gilded Age, and Downton Abbey have fueled a global obsession with aristocratic living—but the real stars of these shows may be the homes themselves.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
10 June 2025
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The Odeon was built in the 2nd Century for musical events and meetings of the aristocratic council.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Everyone on set was so gracious and created such a safe space.—
Jennifer Adams,
StyleCaster,
5 June 2025
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Though the mill and its towering chimney are long gone, the house remains—gracious, elegant, and full of period charm.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
The parliamentarian is the chamber's adviser on its proper rules and procedures.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
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Sabrina Carpenter has shared her first proper single of 2025.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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When Van Buren meets Tóth, he is fascinated by the architect’s cultured perspective.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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The development is a big step forward in the world of cultured meat—meat grown from animal cells instead of animals.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Henckel von Donnersmarck tiara, $12.7 Million The Henckel von Donnersmarck tiara was previously part of the collection of Princess Katherina Henckel von Donnersmarck, a member of Germany’s noble family.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
13 June 2025
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Even Lucy’s favorite customer, Sophie (Zoe Winters), isn’t that noble.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The text messages were largely between Baldoni, his publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, and were obtained through a civil subpoena, Lively's complaint said.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Age verification for pornographic websites Texas enacted a law in 2023 that requires pornography websites to confirm that visitors are at least 18 years old or face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day.—
Melissa Quinn
June 9,
CBS News,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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