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
Based on my experience, labeling someone a contrarian is just an extremely polite way of calling out a person for being a jerk who’s obsessed with the sound of their own voice.
—
Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2025
Calling can be helpful, but sending a brief, polite email to one of the American Airlines executive contacts might have done the trick.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
But on the whole, the hearing was uniformly polite and Powell did not face sharp criticism over the Fed’s decision to leave its rate unchanged.
—Chris Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
This used to be a common saying, now defunct in polite circles as sexist.
—Joan C. Williams
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for polite
Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2025
Calling can be helpful, but sending a brief, polite email to one of the American Airlines executive contacts might have done the trick.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
But on the whole, the hearing was uniformly polite and Powell did not face sharp criticism over the Fed’s decision to leave its rate unchanged.
—Chris Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
This used to be a common saying, now defunct in polite circles as sexist.
—Joan C. Williams
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for polite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polite
Adjective
-
For some science, the discoveries will be limited by whatever the sky is gracious enough to give—a star must explode for the Rubin Observatory to spot a new supernova, for example.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
1 July 2025
-
Miss Manners is certain that your heartfelt gratitude, in the form of a gracious and appreciative handwritten letter, will be thanks enough.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
The potential disasters of treating art like traditional investments far outweigh the cost of proper planning.—
Matthew F. Erskine,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Eggs themselves are not a source of collagen—but the egg white specifically contains proline and glycine, two essential amino acids for proper collagen production.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
Records have shown that a large share of those currently in detention do not have a criminal record, but civil immigration offenses instead.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
-
However, this current string of civil discourse in media has departed significantly in tone from the last wave of iconic political commentary in film and television.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
There’s no denying that the second-generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle car tipped the scale toward kitsch, adding flares, spoilers, and a set of cringeworthy decals—available as of 1973 as a $55 option—to an otherwise respectable design.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
27 June 2025
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Zeller was taken ahead of the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steven Adams, a pair of big men who’ve had more than respectable careers.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
The dress even has thoughtful front pockets for stashing goods on the go.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 July 2025
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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
-
More decorous versions simply excluded Jews, Blacks, and others to create those ethnic enclaves Vance decries in the form of elite institutions from country clubs to, formerly, Congress and the courts.—
Rebecca Solnit
August 23,
Literary Hub,
23 Aug. 2024
-
Instead, they are selected and rearranged to form a narrative of gradual debasement: a semantic descent from the decorous to the vulgar, often ending with crude references to the body.—
Jeffrey Weiss,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Most of my colleagues are passionate and courteous people so will often try to respond to as many questions as possible.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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As mentioned, this is a very popular trail, especially on the weekends, so try to be courteous and share the trail with other hikers.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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To begin with, bombardment is unlikely to lead to a satisfactory outcome.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
21 June 2025
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At highway cruising speed, the SUV is satisfactory.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polite. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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