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genteelness

noun

Definition of genteelnessnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteelness
  1. attentiveness
  2. manners
  3. elegance
  4. gallantry
  5. thoughtfulness
  6. politeness
  7. hospitality
  8. courtesy
Noun
  • Sirianni sees Smith’s attentiveness in team meetings, his extra work in the weight room on his own time, and his extra work before and after practices.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Tornare remarked on Koons’ attentiveness and deep involvement, from overall concepts to the smallest design cues.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of attentiveness
Noun
  • Maybe the South doesn’t brag about its blazing fall colors (because that’s just bad manners), but Southern gardeners can enjoy autumn splendor every bit as lovely as the sugar maples in Vermont or the aspens in the Rockies.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026
  • The desire to fit in is a powerful instinct, one that is externalized to varying degrees in our manners and relationships.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of manners
Noun
  • The rooms Nestled on 20 acres of private woodlands, the eight-room inn carries a timeless elegance, with design features like stone patios, hidden gardens, and exposed 18th-century beams cutting through various rooms.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Federer, whose single-handed backhand is part of the reason he is viewed as the epitome of tennis elegance, has become an unofficial spokesperson for the shot.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of elegance
Noun
  • In World Cup lore, however, his gallantry is doomed to be overshadowed by that of his fellow-goalkeeper from Cabo Verde, Vozinha, who had already produced an uncanny impersonation of a brick wall on the fourth day of the tournament.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • In all of these cases, the effect is largely the same—forging intimacy through some level of generosity or gallantry, coupled with pure, physical proximity—and in 2026, all of them are still technically possible.
    — Sara Delgado, Vogue, 9 July 2026
Definition of gallantry
Noun
  • That creativity and thoughtfulness are qualities Sandy has gotten to know well during their two-year relationship.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Besides all that thoughtfulness around utility, the designs are some of the best out there.
    — Melissa Knific, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of thoughtfulness
Noun
  • The dynamic between the parents and the perpetrators steadily escalates from politeness to hostility to eventual torture, all while maintaining a frustrating attitude of inevitability and justification toward the former’s fate.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
  • She’s used to chief stews who yell and is thrown off by Aesha’s politeness.
    — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of politeness
Noun
  • In truth, that was just the latest example and another to add to the pile, along with the group of fans who had their season tickets in prime locations at the stadium moved to accommodate hospitality seats and to satisfy UEFA regulations.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The quality of hospitality and service offered at La Sponda, though, will be familiar to Daniel’s diners, Angelo said.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of hospitality
Noun
  • As for accessories, Balfe wore jewelry pieces courtesy of Jessica McCormack.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The full NewFest38 lineup, including its wide range of narrative features, is below, with language courtesy of the festival.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of courtesy
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.

Browse Nearby Words

genteelisms
genteelness
gentile
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Genteelness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteelness. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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