well-bred

adjective

ˈwel-ˈbred How to pronounce well-bred (audio)
Definition of well-brednext
as in polite
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners a well-bred young woman who is unfailingly polite to everyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of well-bred As the sun set on the gentlemanly era of relationship banking, Wall Street needed to recruit huge numbers of the most talented—not just well-bred or best-connected—bankers to keep up. — Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well-bred
  1. polite
  2. gracious
  3. civil
Adjective
  • Being honest about your limits is more helpful than being polite.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • When speaking to a duo of polite British children on their Spider-Man press tour, Holland eggs Zendaya into doing her British accent.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • Be open and gracious to comments on how to handle the situation differently in the future.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • For a day, the WNBA chose normal, and good gracious, what a relief.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of gracious
Adjective
  • Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, of Lincoln Heights pleaded guilty in late April to one count of obstructing, impeding and interfering with law enforcement officers during civil disorder, the Department of Justice said in a news release.
    — Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike traditional diplomacy, conducted by states and official representatives, civil humanitarian diplomacy can create complementary spaces for dialogue and cooperation through civil society and other non-state actors.
    — Ricardo Bellino, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of civil

Browse Nearby Words

wellborn
well-bred
well-conditioned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Well-bred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-bred. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on well-bred

Nglish: Translation of well-bred for Spanish Speakers

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