1
as in manners
speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding
the little girl's politeness greatly impressed her teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gesture
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
inquiring after his wife was a simple politeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of politeness
Multiple sources speak about his impressive handling of a tough situation, praising his politeness and professionalism.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Beyond simple politeness, being easy to talk to happens to be a powerful social and career advantage.
—John Bowe, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
This superficial politeness hinders effective decision-making, erodes accountability, and leaves teams ill-equipped for pressure.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The advice here is to stop overcommitting out of politeness.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
And yet, beneath the veil of politeness, there was rhetoric from the US president that suggests his default position in negotiations is still to pressure Kyiv, while appeasing Moscow.
—Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Like Nighty Night, Such Brave Girls takes a sledgehammer to the flimsy framework of manners that keeps the British social construct (barely) hanging together, exposing the malice and envy that so often lie beneath the politeness.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2025
Not to mention, the city is extremely solo-diner friendly—counter seating is conducive to eating alone—and fully embraces the Japanese culture of hospitality and politeness.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
Charlotte is not faring much better, immediately picking up on her outsider status in this lily-white town, and the way her new neighbors offer only bare-minimum politeness.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Beyond simple politeness, being easy to talk to happens to be a powerful social and career advantage.
—John Bowe, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
This superficial politeness hinders effective decision-making, erodes accountability, and leaves teams ill-equipped for pressure.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The advice here is to stop overcommitting out of politeness.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
And yet, beneath the veil of politeness, there was rhetoric from the US president that suggests his default position in negotiations is still to pressure Kyiv, while appeasing Moscow.
—Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Like Nighty Night, Such Brave Girls takes a sledgehammer to the flimsy framework of manners that keeps the British social construct (barely) hanging together, exposing the malice and envy that so often lie beneath the politeness.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2025
Not to mention, the city is extremely solo-diner friendly—counter seating is conducive to eating alone—and fully embraces the Japanese culture of hospitality and politeness.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
Charlotte is not faring much better, immediately picking up on her outsider status in this lily-white town, and the way her new neighbors offer only bare-minimum politeness.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for politeness
Noun
-
Judith Martin's Miss Manners column has chronicled the continuous rise and fall of American manners since 1978.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Good manners and charm go a long way – ha!—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If the robot learns to pick up a bottle in an exact position and the bottle is shifted slightly, a system that only imitates will repeat the original gesture and fail.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
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Apart from managing the relationship with Washington, Takaichi faces the need to strike a balance between regional sensitivities and domestic political gestures that fire up her conservative and nationalist base.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Life without that kind of attentiveness?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
This conviction shaped his attentiveness to Jews facing state oppression.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Run with the permission of the author, courtesy of Grove Press.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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That nourishment comes courtesy of fatty acid–rich rice bran extract and allantoin, the latter of which also works to repair the skin barrier to stave off sensitivity.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There’s a quixotic gallantry to appealing to a saner conservative and looking ahead to a post-Trump American politics.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
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Queen Elizabeth later awarded Beaton the George's Cross, Britain’s highest civilian award for gallantry, for his role in saving her daughter’s life, and bestowed honors on Callender, as well as the other policemen and onlookers who intervened.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Merging nature with elegance, Van views fashion as an architecture of the body and immerses her work in Southeast artisanal traditions, with garments that shape silhouettes and the wearer’s emotions.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
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In the early 2000s the property was restored by the La Sultana hotel group, in partnership with the Department of Historic Monuments, who employed expert master craftsmen to bring the riads back to their former elegance using centuries-old methods.—
Harriet Elton,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Improving civility and cultivating relationships among electeds is not complicated.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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His sophomore restaurant, Chateau Royale, is another ode to old-school French civility.—
Andrea Strong,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Longtime board member Dan Amend called Jennings one of his favorite people in the world, who exhibits thoughtfulness and kindness at her core.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Waves from bus drivers, greetings on the sidewalks of New York, a beer bought at a bar, a steak paid for at the Tap Room of the New York Athletic Club…courtesy, thoughtfulness, consideration…thanks!—
Timothy Cardinal Dolan,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Politeness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/politeness. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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