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Synonym Chooser

How is the word gracious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of gracious are affable, cordial, genial, and sociable. While all these words mean "markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse," gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.

the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues

When is it sensible to use affable instead of gracious?

Although the words affable and gracious have much in common, affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.

though wealthy, she was affable to all

Where would cordial be a reasonable alternative to gracious?

In some situations, the words cordial and gracious are roughly equivalent. However, cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.

our host was cordial as he greeted us

When might genial be a better fit than gracious?

The meanings of genial and gracious largely overlap; however, genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.

a genial companion with a ready quip

When could sociable be used to replace gracious?

The synonyms sociable and gracious are sometimes interchangeable, but sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.

sociable people who enjoy entertaining

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 gracious Tall, lanky and infinitely gracious, Dan Bifano is known as the gardener to the stars, building huge rose gardens for wealthy, famous SoCal clients like Barbra Streisand and Oprah. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025 Maybe the fame machine has offered a gracious glimpse, and some of the questions faced by ghostwriters who have seen books turn from things of beauty to cogs in the wheel are a warm-up. Anna Mitchael may 30, Literary Hub, 30 May 2025 Everyone on set was so gracious and created such a safe space. Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 5 June 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for gracious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gracious
Adjective
  • Italy has, nevertheless, been experiencing a surge in wealthy arrivals — both to visit and live — as its more hospitable flat-tax regime and booming luxury real estate sector have proved a draw whereas other countries have sought to crack down on the uber-rich.
    Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 27 June 2025
  • But the temporary win for researchers doesn’t mean the NIH under Trump will necessarily become newly hospitable to grant proposals concerning PrEP implementation.
    Benjamin Ryan, NBC news, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Quiet and largely seasonably pleasant weather will settle across the Kansas City area on Tuesday, giving the metro a break from the heat and storms of the past few days, according to the National Weather Service.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025
  • The average temperature is a pleasant 56°F (13°C), with warm summers and cool winters.
    Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Anne Hathaway’s Lureen, all rodeo sparkle and small-town ambition, is Jack’s half-hearted refuge; her final scene is a master class in polite denial, her eyes steel behind a frosty Texas drawl.
    Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
  • Fittingly, a green laser shined out into the crowd as attendees turned from polite listeners to a rowdy mosh pit, singing every word.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • This friendly caller is helping seniors feel less lonely, The Wall Street Journal reports.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 28 June 2025
  • This is a guide that is both a friendly flower refresher course for the veteran gardener and a wonderful introduction to flowers for the novice.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Specialty restaurants on Westerdam, which come at an extra cost, include Pinnacle Grill, a steakhouse-style affair serving prime steaks and seafood, and Canaletto, which does nice Italian fare.
    Susan B. Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025
  • The answer is a cool $2.8 million, probably enough to buy a really nice apartment in Ghent near the River Scheldt.
    Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • The dress even has thoughtful front pockets for stashing goods on the go.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2025
  • Director Hyuk Jae-kwon creates a seductively eerie mood with thoughtful visual effects and discordant background noises.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • The kindly matriarch wins over Amélie by feeding her white chocolate, and thus a first human connection is made.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 5 July 2025
  • Those with kindly outlooks might believe that people comfy with that kind of damage might not understand its impact.
    Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • The reality star also shared the baby’s sweet name: Teddi.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 7 July 2025
  • Death cap mushrooms are easily mistaken for other edible varieties, and reportedly possess a sweet taste that belies their potent toxicity.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gracious. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gracious

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