Synonyms of polite

polite

adjective

pə-ˈlīt 

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

• gracious
• civil
• thoughtful
• courteous
• respectful
• careful
• nice
• friendly
• pleasant
• genteel
• civilized
• respectable
• mannerly
• graceful
• gallant
• elegant
• well-bred
• attentive
• considerate
• humble
• good
• appropriate
• gentlemanly
• solicitous
• acceptable
• ceremonious
• ceremonial
• chivalrous
• smooth
• meek
• formal
• hospitable
• courtly
• decent
• ladylike
• suitable
• correct
• deferential
• decorous
• cordial
• suave
• urbane
• dutiful
• proper
• gentlemanlike
• fitting
• unctuous
• affable
• submissive
• meet
• sociable
• genial
• modest
• right
• refined
• becoming
• yielding
• couth
• fit
• red-carpet
• felicitous
• seemly
• befitting
• unassertive
• demure
• comme il faut

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rude
• impolite
• discourteous
• thoughtless
• ungracious
• inconsiderate
• uncivil
• unmannerly
• thoughtless
• inconsiderate
• insolent
• disrespectful
• heedless
• impudent
• bold
• impertinent
• informal
• brash
• vulgar
• uncouth
• unmannered
• audacious
• saucy
• shameless
• casual
• brassy
• boorish
• ill-mannered
• churlish
• mannerless
• clownish
• inappropriate
• improper
• loutish
• ill-bred
• ungenteel
• arrogant
• incorrect
• indecent
• unseemly
• unceremonious
• indecorous
• pretentious
• presumptuous
• bold-faced
• lippy
• conceited
• uncalled-for
• clodhopping
• unrespectable
• presuming

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

• proper
• respectable
• decorous
• satisfactory
• nice
• acceptable
• correct
• formal
• genteel
• decent
• elegant
• adequate
• gracious
• dress
• seemly
• befitting
• dignified
• tolerable
• relevant
• congenial
• de rigueur
• dressy
• apt
• prim
• permitted
• stuffy
• priggish
• harmonious
• authorized
• compatible
• kosher
• allowed
• stiff
• material

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inappropriate
• improper
• informal
• incorrect
• unsatisfactory
• indecent
• unbecoming
• unacceptable
• indelicate
• unseemly
• casual
• intolerable
• indecorous
• shabby
• tacky
• barred
• seedy
• forbidden
• prohibited
• ungenteel
• awkward
• grungy
• disallowed
• gauche
• proscribed
• ungraceful
• banned
• outlawed
• interdicted

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective polite contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of polite are chivalrous, civil, courteous, and gallant. While all these words mean "observant of the forms required by good breeding," polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

When might chivalrous be a better fit than polite?

The synonyms chivalrous and polite are sometimes interchangeable, but chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

When is civil a more appropriate choice than polite?

Although the words civil and polite have much in common, civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

owed the questioner a civil reply

When is it sensible to use courteous instead of polite?

The meanings of courteous and polite largely overlap; however, courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

How are the words gallant and chivalrous related as synonyms of polite?

Both gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. Gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.

a gallant suitor of the old school

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of polite

Some of the dialogue with the relevant parties has added to the distress, including polite and repeated requests for updates or responses being ignored. — Stuart James, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

With some knowingly polite smiles, John navigates an awkward, potentially racist interaction at a local gun store while purchasing a sniper scope (sans gun) to spy on Macon’s compound from a nearby tower. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Perfection isn’t the goal, and being polite doesn’t mean being perfect. — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026

Most New York rooftops offer the skyline at a polite distance, but here the Empire State Building stands a block away and slightly above, floodlit and enormous. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026