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
But across the city in the genteel surroundings of a Marylebone hotel, this animosity will soon turn public.
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Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 20 Nov. 2024
Horror stories are often about the disjuncture between appearances and depths and turn on a change in perception: the genteel aristocrat who is in fact a monster, the idyllic town that conceals a dark secret.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024
Judge Reinhold, as an overly genteel young detective whom Foley brings into the adult world, and John Ashton, as Reinhold’s surly, stubby older partner, carry a burden as big as Murphy’s through the second half of the picture.
—David Denby, Vulture, 3 July 2024
The rude new businessman—acting a lot like the characters who strutted around the ring, garnering the rabid love of the crowd—upset a genteel arrangement and won big.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for genteel 
Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 20 Nov. 2024
Horror stories are often about the disjuncture between appearances and depths and turn on a change in perception: the genteel aristocrat who is in fact a monster, the idyllic town that conceals a dark secret.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024
Judge Reinhold, as an overly genteel young detective whom Foley brings into the adult world, and John Ashton, as Reinhold’s surly, stubby older partner, carry a burden as big as Murphy’s through the second half of the picture.
—David Denby, Vulture, 3 July 2024
The rude new businessman—acting a lot like the characters who strutted around the ring, garnering the rabid love of the crowd—upset a genteel arrangement and won big.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for genteel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genteel
Adjective
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The level of outward emotional expression here is simply kept at a level true to figures who may inwardly be reaching their boiling point, but are still held back by self-respect and polite manners.Dennis Harvey, Variety, 12 Dec. 2024
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Then Threads, which has a little bit of an issue of feeling kind of like LinkedIn and being very polite, but then has that benefit of Meta being able to push users from Instagram to Thread.Lauren Goode, WIRED, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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By contrast, the recent behavior of the rebels who have just conquered Syria looks reassuringly civilized.Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024
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The United States is a civilized country with strong democratic institutions.Steven A. Harvey, Baltimore Sun, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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On another rack is a coat made with a tweed that belongs to the family estate of an aristocratic customer.Samantha Conti, WWD, 20 Dec. 2024
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Gunn describes his take as less of an origin story and more of a journey, with Superman struggling to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage and aristocratic origins with his small-town, adoptive human family.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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His acceptance speech was just like him: gracious and humble.AllBusiness, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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When it was announced that the Last Splash classic lineup of the Breeders (Kim Deal on rhythm guitar and vocals, twin sister Kelley on lead guitar, Josephine Wiggs on bass, and Jim Macpherson on drums) would be opening select dates in 2024 for Olivia Rodrigo, Deal was both shocked and gracious.Drew Fortune, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Here’s how can Hoosiers help bats at home Installing bat boxes can help provide emergency shelters for bats that might need them when proper roosts are unavailable.Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Dec. 2024
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There are sacrifices that have to be made in this life that lead to a sort of ebbing and flowing that’s integral to the proper running of things, like a stream.Daisy Jones, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The timeless gem gets a modern twist with the freshwater cultured pearls stationed along a 10k yellow gold rope chain.Brittany Talarico, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024
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Not only was there overfishing but high-quality cultured pearls arrived, such as those from Mikimoto, first imported by Parisian jeweler Worms, followed by the 1929 financial crisis.Lily Templeton, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The current cast is rounded out by Alison Brie, who will play another Skeletor lackey, Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba, who will play the noble Man-at-Arms, and Riverdale's Camila Mendes as Teela, Man-at-Arms's daughter and He-Man's right-hand woman.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
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In the 12th century, the property was once the private home of an Italian noble family.Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Administrative actions, including imposing civil penalties, suspending or revoking the operator's certificates, and pursuing criminal charges, may be brought in by the FAA in response to the ban being violated.Marni Rose McFall, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
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What starts as a civil split soon becomes strained as the couple grapples with the harsh realities of their new living arrangements.Jamie Lang, Variety, 19 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near genteel
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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