as in attentiveness
speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding
the young man displays the kind of old-school genteelness that one rarely encounters on today's college campuses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteelness
Noun
-
The company is aiming squarely at a traveler who wants the convenience of commercial routes but the comfort and attentiveness that usually come with chartering a jet.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
4 Dec. 2025 -
This kind of attentiveness has practical benefits, too.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Beloved actor Ron Perlman fully leans into trying to make the contestants fail this task by forcing eye contact, asking them polite questions, rebuking their bad manners in ignoring him, and even doggedly getting into their personal space.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
Flight attendants can often detect bad manners the second a passenger steps on board.—
Joey Skladany,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Bespoke millwork adds instant architectural elegance, like in this luxurious bathroom by Harper Harris Design.—
Sophie Aliece Hollis,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
-
Just off Bamberg’s lively, strollable core is Hotel Villa Geyersworth, a four‑star, 40‑key property blending modern comfort with quiet old‑town elegance and well‑kept gardens.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
During the reception, Princess Kate shared an emotional moment with Tony Gledhill, a former Metropolitan Police officer who received the George Cross for gallantry in 1966.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a quixotic gallantry to appealing to a saner conservative and looking ahead to a post-Trump American politics.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And Kimmel, who has never been accused of thoughtfulness or thoroughness, claiming that Colbert's contract offer proves something is once again wrong.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Traditionally, the style focuses on making jabs at someone’s appearance or identity, welcoming hurtful comments that punch down on someone when done without thoughtfulness.—
Steven Vargas,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Independence turns evaluation from politeness into truth.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
-
But our politeness never mattered.—
Andrea Uptmor,
Time,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
There are other awards given to restaurants and the hospitality industry but the James Beard Foundation, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, puts a premium on discovery and on American cuisine.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
-
The service Generations of LMR ownership have upheld high standards for property staff to deliver top-notch western hospitality.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Les Olympiens reaffirmed their title credentials by responding with three straight wins, only to repeat their late home collapse against Toulouse before falling at Lille courtesy of an early Ethan Mbappe strike last Friday.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
-
For Simone Biles' destination wedding to Jonathan Owens, the couple wore coordinating bride-and-groom Nike sneakers decked out with tons of bling, courtesy of Leila Bensarghin, owner of online shoewear customization shop Lei Lab Crystals.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Genteelness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteelness. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
