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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Letting your friend know their deodorant is a little weak is a direct but still polite way to encourage them to freshen up.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
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Some people are strangely triggered and less than polite, especially men and people with migraines who seem to hate it.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The lighting is sufficient for patrons to take it all in, and the sound level, despite the size of the room, has been successfully brought down to a civilized level.—
John Mariani,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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Even a hearing on the proposal to arm school staff is equal parts passionate and civilized, as the majority gun-owning constituents don’t all agree that the Second Amendment should extend to the classroom.—
Lauren Wissot,
IndieWire,
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 press conference had a very gracious tone on the U.S. relationship.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Clara’s Table restaurant is Dearborn Inn’s tribute to Henry Ford’s wife, Clara, a passionate horticulturist and gracious hostess.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
AFAR Media,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The government insisted the nonprofits didn't have standing to bring this case on behalf of the employees because the employees themselves needed go through the proper, yet limited, channels to challenge their firings, with each employee fighting his or her own battle.—
Christina Gatti,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2025
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All my Social Security user logins are again able to connect and view the proper benefit information.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Young says the higher butterfat content of cultured butter yields flakier pastries and creamier sauces.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2025
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Turgenev, Conrad and James found something captivating about political revolutionaries who were also well educated, cultured and sensitive.—
Max Chapnick,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 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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If this were a civil case, the parties would likely file motions for summary judgment, and the judge would be able to offer an explanation of how the law applies to the evidence adduced at trial.—
Andrea Tinianow,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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In civil cases, confidential settlements can resolve matters that might have taken years to go to trial, by allowing those accused of wrongdoing to minimize any publicity.—
David W. Chen,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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