Synonyms of urbane

urbane

adjective

ˌər-ˈbān 

as in sophisticated

having or showing very polished and worldly manners

a gentlemanly and urbane host of elegant dinner parties

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sophisticated
• civilized
• graceful
• suave
• gracious
• smooth
• polished
• debonair
• cosmopolitan
• cultured
• attractive
• serene
• svelte
• experienced
• metropolitan
• confident
• cavalier
• slick
• cultivated
• smart
• glib
• genteel
• unctuous
• amiable
• composed
• practiced
• poised
• appealing
• seasoned
• well-bred
• worldly-wise
• couth
• placid
• metro
• knowing
• collected
• practised
• refined
• calm
• tranquil
• undisturbed
• unperturbed
• schooled
• self-possessed
• self-assured
• self-confident
• assured
• secure
• cool

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncouth
• boorish
• wooden
• clownish
• loutish
• green
• classless
• gauche
• churlish
• uncomfortable
• provincial
• uneasy
• clumsy
• awkward
• rustic
• stilted
• stiff
• raw
• inexperienced
• parochial
• graceless
• ungraceful
• puerile
• callow
• unsophisticated
• uncivilized
• uncultured
• unrefined
• unworldly
• inelegant
• stodgy
• rough-hewn
• gawky
• ungainly
• rustical
• insecure
• diffident
• hick
• philistine
• lubberly

Synonym Chooser

How is the word urbane different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of urbane are bland, diplomatic, politic, smooth, and suave. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

When could bland be used to replace urbane?

In some situations, the words bland and urbane are roughly equivalent. However, bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

When might diplomatic be a better fit than urbane?

The synonyms diplomatic and urbane are sometimes interchangeable, but diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

When is politic a more appropriate choice than urbane?

While in some cases nearly identical to urbane, politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

Where would smooth be a reasonable alternative to urbane?

While the synonyms smooth and urbane are close in meaning, smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

When can suave be used instead of urbane?

Although the words suave and urbane have much in common, suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of urbane

It’s based on writer-director-star Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same name—an urbane box-office hit that has since been overshadowed by quintessentially ’80s rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally. —Judy Berman, Time, 1 May 2025

While the town prided itself as the most urbane, sophisticated place between St. Louis and San Francisco, drunkenness, gambling and debauchery, typical of any frontier mining camp, were the hallmarks of its nightlife. —Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025

Oliveira’s father was a wealthy industrialist, and a view from the old house’s perspective invokes the comforts that his family’s prosperity afforded, and, with these, the inner vistas, the aesthetic initiation that opened up to him in his urbane youth. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025

After 26 years spent working around Hart’s erratic binges and missing mornings, Rodgers (Andrew Scott at his most urbane) has found a new partner in Oscar Hammerstein (Simon Delaney), a large, bluff man who reveres Hart as his profession’s sage. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025

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