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
Relevance
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
Those who knew Bemnet Deresse and sisters, Eden and Feven Adugna, say the three were polite, well-mannered and hard-working.
—
Brenda Ordonez, Fox 19 Cincinnati, 3 Sep. 2025
Yes, Molly Solverson, the first season’s hero, was a polite female cop from a small Minnesota town, who in some episodes was, like Marge Gunderson in the movie, visibly pregnant and married to a mailman.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Everything here is just better — the way animals are treated, people are polite.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Tia Glover, with her sharp British wit, looks primed to challenge Potomac’s polite veneers.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polite
Brenda Ordonez, Fox 19 Cincinnati, 3 Sep. 2025
Yes, Molly Solverson, the first season’s hero, was a polite female cop from a small Minnesota town, who in some episodes was, like Marge Gunderson in the movie, visibly pregnant and married to a mailman.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Everything here is just better — the way animals are treated, people are polite.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Tia Glover, with her sharp British wit, looks primed to challenge Potomac’s polite veneers.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polite
Adjective
-
Percussion and a choir imbued the ballad with a pulse, and the gracious Warren quickly turned to clap for the singers at song’s end.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The 63-year-old chef helms the kitchen at Vila Joya—the restaurant of a gracious boutique hotel in Portugal that shares its name—which earned one Michelin star in 1995 and a second in 1999.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There is a duty of care not to use data for the sake of it, but rather to ensure that analysis stands up to proper scrutiny and scientific rigour where possible.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Leaving clean laundry in the dryer or hamper only puts off a chore until later, keeps clean clothes from its proper place, and also risks wrinkles or someone accidentally mistaking it for dirty laundry instead.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Being undocumented in the United States, whether by crossing the border without authorization or overstaying a visa, is typically considered a civil violation rather than a criminal offense.—
Caroll Alvarado,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
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The Sheriff's Department investigation was announced shortly after the civil suit was filed in May.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Swag itself opened with a respectable 163,000 overall units back in July despite having few physical album sales since his physical units hadn’t shipped out yet.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
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And at least Brentford’s human-rights record is respectable.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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An amicable run-in with his ex-wife in this episode has the same thoughtful feeling.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Her solution is to be thoughtful and focused on the right risks and opportunities.—
Jack McCullough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Still, Julie Rotblatt Amrany got the flying ponytail right and delivered a decorous portrayal that was well received.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
30 Aug. 2025
-
The cost of parties, marketing, shipping, insurance, and the decorous administration of nearly five hundred sales a year only ever drifts one way.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Remember, drivers spend hours each day talking with passengers, and sometimes silence is the most courteous option.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Aug. 2025
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Superficially courteous and casually racist, Jimmer is an old school authority figure, from his wide-brimmed hat to his work boots, and he’s presented as a fearful impediment to Marshall’s mission right from the jump.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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On a scale of one to five, an average or satisfactory experience is a three.—
Shep Hyken,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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Of those, six — including five children — are in satisfactory condition.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polite. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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