1
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
those bygone days when young women were taught how to drink tea while wearing long gloves and other genteel ways of behaving
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2
as in civilized
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living
she grew up in genteel old Savannah
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3
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station
the genteel ladies never mixed with the servants prohibited by reason of her genteel birth from marrying the man she loved
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4
as in gracious
showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners
his genteel gesture of holding the door for the ladies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of genteel
Bournemouth were portrayed as a fairytale; a small club from a genteel resort town on England’s south coast who climbed through the divisions playing their football in a tippy-tappy way, led by their youthful, clean-cut manager.
—
George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Bassist Horace Panter was from the genteel middle-class market town of Kettering.
—Ian Penman, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
And while Carter’s post-Presidential legacy often receives kinder praise than those of his actions in office, his genteel approach and appreciation for the country’s youth offered a necessary antidote to the bullish egos of previous administrations.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
The New Yorkers, meanwhile, were at times baffled by the Italians’ genteel airs.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Bassist Horace Panter was from the genteel middle-class market town of Kettering.
—Ian Penman, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
And while Carter’s post-Presidential legacy often receives kinder praise than those of his actions in office, his genteel approach and appreciation for the country’s youth offered a necessary antidote to the bullish egos of previous administrations.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
The New Yorkers, meanwhile, were at times baffled by the Italians’ genteel airs.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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Wear old clothes and shoes Bring flashlights Watch for sharp objects Avoid food waste Wash your hands Be polite and cooperate if you are asked to leave The Fresno Bee 559-441-6005 Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter.—
Fernanda Galan,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Which felt like a polite way of saying the same thing.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The education of a nation’s citizenry, whether public or private, is the heartbeat of any sustaining and civilized culture.—
Patricia A. Daniel,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Apr. 2025
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What started as a civilized, postwork affair with a sushi station escalated for many of the guests as more and more martinis were drunk from Madeline’s martini bar.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In reality, McArthur was a bull-rider from Clinton and a far cry from the aristocratic type others had pegged him for, Lyons said.—
Tony Holt,
Arkansas Online,
7 Apr. 2025
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The largely middle-class Liberals replaced Britain's aristocratic Whigs in the 19th century only to be supplanted themselves by the working-class Labor Party in the 20th century.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The draft will be held in Green Bay, and the NFL always brings in collegians who figure to be taken high, so Commissioner Roger Goodell can be the gracious host and hug them after they’re picked.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Apr. 2025
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Rose was gracious as ever after his second straight time finishing second in a major, having lost out at Royal Troon last summer.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Just cut the tubing to the proper length and wrap it around the cables.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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By advocating for proper funding, schools will be able to take innovative approaches to increasing literacy rates, as well as seeing gains in math.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Neither Eriksson nor Capello seemed particularly determined to evolve the style of play and make England a more cultured footballing side.—
Michael Cox,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
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Wilk, an Israeli venture, focuses on producing cultured milk fats, used in making cheese and yogurt.—
Daphne Ewing-Chow,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Even those with noble intentions, like Boromir, who dream of wielding it to protect their people, fail to grasp its truth.—
Jon Fleischman,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2025
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Bonhoeffer’s understanding of conscience inspires heroic action: People really can do the most dangerous and noble things — a good reminder in our low, dishonest times.—
David DeCosse,
Mercury News,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The civil suits are the only remaining legal effort to hold the president accountable for the riot, after two criminal cases against Trump tied to Jan. 6 crumbled last year.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
23 Apr. 2025
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The disastrous event led to its organizer pleading guilty to wire fraud and settling a class-action civil suit.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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