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
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
Visitors will find more than arcadian Constable landscapes and genteel Gainsborough portraits of aristocrats.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
There will be others who feel this level of passion is good for a sport that can be too genteel for some people’s tastes.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
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
Visitors will find more than arcadian Constable landscapes and genteel Gainsborough portraits of aristocrats.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
There will be others who feel this level of passion is good for a sport that can be too genteel for some people’s tastes.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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Instead, Storm reached the bottom rope to a polite pop from Glendale.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
Sometimes the threat of a fine can produce better results than a polite request.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Exile away from the rest of the civilized federation.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
20 May 2025
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To someone from a hardscrabble life, Hartford seemed so posh and civilized to him.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Don’t be fooled by its aristocratic interiors—rates start at around $180 per night—and be sure to make reservations at the hotel’s excellent Asturian restaurant, whose dishes spotlight local ingredients like sea urchin caviar and smoked Los Caserinos cheese.—
Siobhan Reid,
Vogue,
28 May 2025
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But instead of roaming around 18th century Europe fueled by an aristocratic family fortune, today’s Beautiful People (also called the BPs) are traveling the world and soaking up culture courtesy of big luxury brands.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Its three-stateroom design lets owners and guests can enjoy weekend cruising, while the exterior promotes gracious outdoor living in the large beach-club area, or up on the sport bridge.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
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Ohio State fans were actually gracious in honoring him before the game.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Cabinet hardware jigs vary slightly in design, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2025
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But on March 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower issued a proclamation on the proper times.—
Chloe Mayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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Yogurt is created with cultured bacteria and kefir with kefir grains (live cultures that ferment milk and multiply).—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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Overwhelmingly, the pictures portrayed manual work as a noble, even romantic enterprise.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
31 May 2025
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Now Rome’s buzziest new hotel is also one of its oldest: Grand Hotel de la Minerva became a hotel in the 1800s but was built in the 1700s as the residence of a noble Portuguese family.—
Erica Firpo,
AFAR Media,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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The suit was filed under Idaho Code 6-202, which addresses civil trespassing.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
30 May 2025
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Potential Witnesses Harve Pierre Former president of Bad Boy Records Harve Pierre has been named in lawsuits alongside Diddy, including at least three civil lawsuits, including the one filed by Dawn Richard.—
Janeé Bolden,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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