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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of genteel
Yet today, the atmosphere on set is far from oppressively genteel.
—
Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
Helen is this fascinating contradiction — a genteel Tory wife who is also a ruthless assassin.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
The genteel and old-timey rooms start at $239 in late fall.
—Abbie Kozolchyk, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2024
There were still three and a half hours to go before kick-off, but the noise ricocheted off the genteel peach-and-cream facades of Leipzig’s townhouses.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for genteel 
Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
Helen is this fascinating contradiction — a genteel Tory wife who is also a ruthless assassin.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
The genteel and old-timey rooms start at $239 in late fall.
—Abbie Kozolchyk, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2024
There were still three and a half hours to go before kick-off, but the noise ricocheted off the genteel peach-and-cream facades of Leipzig’s townhouses.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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If Trump lost McConnell on Hegseth, there is reason to think other Republican lawmakers might now look around and find good—and shrewd—company in the polite opposition.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
27 Jan. 2025
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Upon arrival in Key West, the group exchanges polite greetings, but the underlying tension is palpable.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike his sister Athena (who was associated with military strategy and other relatively civilized aspects of warfare), Ares represented pure savagery.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
20 Jan. 2025
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But the story being told and the decidedly not civilized setting seems to demand the graphic approach.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Their attire and posture radiated an iconic, aristocratic style, exemplified by Vance's wife, who stood elegantly in her rose-pitch dress coat.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
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Despite the name, Palace hotels aren’t always centuries-old aristocratic mansions, and many feel thoroughly modern.—
Mary Winston Nicklin,
AFAR Media,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Dalin was gracious in the moment, but those close to him and the campaign acknowledge that the sting was real.—
George Allen,
Robb Report,
15 Jan. 2025
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The hotel feels grown-up and staff effusively handle all of your needs with a striking level of gracious humility.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Reacting to the decision by the Trump administration to close the U.S. visa section of the embassy in Colombia, Petro said there are thousands of Americans living in Colombia without proper documentation.—
Sonia Osorio,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
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This will allow for proper healing and closure of the wound.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Nico Paz Nico Paz is the cultured attacking midfield player currently pulling the strings for Como 1907 in Italy.—
Joseph O'Sullivan,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
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Incorporation of photosynthetically active algal chloroplasts in cultured mammalian cells towards photosynthesis in animals.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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But as his latest shows, noble principles about the protection of wildlife and animals don’t automatically translate to a good screenplay or a watchable movie.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
17 Jan. 2025
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For spring 2025, Loro Piana switched its focus from cashmere to linen, crowned as the noble fiber of the season.—
Luisa Zargani,
WWD,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Then on Thursday, Baldoni filed a $400 million federal lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, as well as Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing the trio of multiple offenses, including defamation, civil extortion, invasion of privacy and interference with contractual relations.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
18 Jan. 2025
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Meanwhile, new inductees of France’s National Order of Merit, an honorific for distinguished civil achievements, were also revealed.—
Lily Templeton,
WWD,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near genteel
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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