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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of genteel
After a trio of controversy-courting biographies, Russian auteur Kirill Serebrennikov will next tackle a more genteel original drama about photography shot and set in France.
—
Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for genteel 
Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024
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
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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Central France has been occupied off and on for thousands of years, by aristocratic families to nomadic tribes.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2025
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According to Creighton and his co-authors, there has been quite a lot of research on castles, which dominated aristocratic sites in England after the Norman Conquest.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
Ars Technica,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Samia is quick to accept the break-up, even gracious.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
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This is a commercial transaction, but even commercial transactions can be gracious — if everyone knows the rules and abides by them.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Like any other law enforcement agency, ICE must check in, show identification, and present proper documentation before taking any action on our campuses.—
Christina Shaw,
Fox News,
6 Feb. 2025
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Those helium cells will use an array of temperature, pressure and humidity sensors to maintain proper lift through the variable conditions of air travel.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But when the rich and cultured Princess Casamassima befriends him, Hyacinth becomes enamored of her lifestyle.—
Max Chapnick,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2025
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Remember, buttermilk is already cultured and tangy, so a little age isn't a deal breaker.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The noble fiber adds a unique shine and color to fabrics, including one made with French linen that uses no chemicals or water, resulting in fabrics with a brown tint.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Jan. 2025
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But there’s also noble resilience in its depiction of solitude, a strange kind of comfort in its rapturous melancholy and companionship in the voices of the dead.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In the 15th Appellate District, which has special statewide jurisdiction in civil cases, salaries range from $163,000 to $205,380.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
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The term generally applies to policies that limit state and local officials from cooperating with federal authorities on civil immigration enforcement duties.—
Jessica Garrison,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near genteel
Cite this Entry
“Genteel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genteel. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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