GENTILITY Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

gentility

noun

jen-ˈti-lə-tē

Definition of gentility

as in manners

speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding was full of the same gentility and grace that marked the rest of the family

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nobility

the highest class in a society as members of the gentility, they felt an obligation to help the less fortunate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of gentility But the glory and gentility that had been the Pontchartrain was gone. — Rick Bragg, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026 In modernizing and Americanizing the Charles Dickens novel, Alfonso Cuarón expunged many of Great Expectations’s subplots in favor of a 1998-friendly romantic drama that cemented Paltrow as an emblem of gentility. — Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 25 Dec. 2025 Ferrara’s arrival in New York City and subsequent entry into the movie business is presented as something like a case of recidivism, a dive from suburban gentility into the cauldron of steaming garbage that was Fun City–era Manhattan. — Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 But this was close to the borderline of gentility. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gentility

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentility

Noun

The causes and manners of death are pending the results of forensic autopsies that were scheduled for Sunday, per the news release from the coroners’ offices.

— Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Model turn-taking, sharing, and good manners, and try to arrange play dates where your child can practice their social skills.

— Fiona Tapp, Parents, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of manners

Noun

Tassel accents make a great outfit anchor; what once adorned the home brings elegance and opulence to your wardrobe.

— Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Nine-foot ceilings enhance the feeling of spaciousness on the first floor while hardwood flooring, used throughout much of the home, and impressive millwork that includes crown molding and chair rails, adds elegance.

— James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of elegance

Noun

The latter category, anticipating biomimicry, is well represented by the automata that captivated the aristocracy in the following century.

— Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
At last, Jones also thought, there was a chance to spotlight the dynamic between North Wales‘ working-class community and its aristocracy on the big screen, a corner of Britain’s social history that has long been sidelined.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026

Definition of aristocracy

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

Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025

Definition of gentry

Noun

She’s used to chief stews who yell and is thrown off by Aesha’s politeness.

— Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Southworth started focusing more specifically on civility, decency, and politeness after COVID, when many employees were fleeing the hospitality industry—all while the membership at their clubs was doubling.

— Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

Definition of politeness

Noun

In Japan, this kind of attentiveness is understood through omotenashi.

— Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
Even in novels centered on Millennial inaction or stasis, such as Pond, by Claire-Louise Bennett, a kind of attentiveness is necessary to advance beyond rhetorical water-treading.

— Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

Definition of attentiveness

Browse Nearby Words

gentilesse

gentility

gentle

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“Gentility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentility. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of gentility

noun

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