1
as in gracious
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners
it's only polite to hold the door for the person behind you
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proper
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
such matters are never mentioned in polite conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of polite
The thing is, most small talk feels like a polite but boring game of ping-pong.
—
Maya Rossignac-Milon
erica Boothby, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Bureau found the youngster to be respectful, polite and well-mannered but, unlike at Avallon, quite shy and hesitant to speak in front of the group.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Most local influencers have been polite and haven't come in expecting anything.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The younger woman smiling coyly, as if with a secret, while the older of the two, still young herself, anxious and polite, looks at the strange columns in the kitchen, trying not to be rude about it.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polite
Maya Rossignac-Milon
erica Boothby, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Bureau found the youngster to be respectful, polite and well-mannered but, unlike at Avallon, quite shy and hesitant to speak in front of the group.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Most local influencers have been polite and haven't come in expecting anything.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The younger woman smiling coyly, as if with a secret, while the older of the two, still young herself, anxious and polite, looks at the strange columns in the kitchen, trying not to be rude about it.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polite
Adjective
-
This luxurious property sizzles with gracious elegance and impeccable service, eliciting over-the-top reviews from guests.—
Kathryn Streeter,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The fans are really, really gracious and excited.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
When using hydrogen peroxide, wear protective gloves and eyewear to avoid irritation, ensure proper ventilation, and never mix it with bleach, ammonia, vinegar, or other cleaning agents.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
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Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The criminal operations have gone largely unchallenged in Cambodia due to the complete dismantling in recent years of the country’s civil society and independent media.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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From their point of view, there will be a local council that will get a lot of money from international donors, but, behind the scenes, Hamas, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, will be able to continue to preserve its military and political and civil power.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There are a lot of very respectable academics that have done a lot of really amazing work in Black Studies and Africana Studies.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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As for the rest, Derby rallied to finish a remarkable third (eventually losing to Queens Park Rangers in the play-off final), while Middlesbrough (12th), Bolton (14th) and Wednesday (16th) claimed a respectable mid-table berth.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For a thoughtful gift, package Joanna Gaines’ vanilla sugar with a bag of coffee beans, a cute mug, or a small French press to create a complete coffee kit.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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For families who value that approach, Carruth’s books offer a thoughtful and accessible way to encourage shared reading and meaningful connection.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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California native of the week: California geranium (Geranium californium) is a perennial endemic to the Sierra Nevada that grows into a one-foot mound bearing flowers in white, pink, or lavender with large, highly decorous palmate leaves.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
27 Sep. 2025
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The hearings are usually decorous affairs, where anger is routine but controlled.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The staff is professional, courteous and cool.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
24 Oct. 2025
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Here, food is art, service is courteous and the ambition to push our city's dining scene forward is present on every plate.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Overall, the sound quality is comparable to that of a basic Bluetooth speaker—more than satisfactory for an AIO PC.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Oct. 2025
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According to a poll conducted by the company, eight out of 10 users were happy with the experience, while another one in five described it as satisfactory.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polite. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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