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Synonym Chooser

How is the word gracious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of gracious are affable, cordial, genial, and sociable. While all these words mean "markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse," gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.

the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues

When is it sensible to use affable instead of gracious?

Although the words affable and gracious have much in common, affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.

though wealthy, she was affable to all

Where would cordial be a reasonable alternative to gracious?

In some situations, the words cordial and gracious are roughly equivalent. However, cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.

our host was cordial as he greeted us

When might genial be a better fit than gracious?

The meanings of genial and gracious largely overlap; however, genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.

a genial companion with a ready quip

When could sociable be used to replace gracious?

The synonyms sociable and gracious are sometimes interchangeable, but sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.

sociable people who enjoy entertaining

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gracious The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ohtani is back in Japan and that puts an even bigger grin on these gracious locals. Jay Paris, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 There's a little sprinkled throughout, but these all-stars are by and large gracious and amiable. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2025 We were also taught to be gracious to those who are guests in our home. Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025 The whole montage was respectful and gracious, with a classical score, rather than a pop chipmunk warbling a sensitive ballad about dead people. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gracious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gracious
Adjective
  • Planting a pollinator garden with milkweed (the only plant the butterflies will lay eggs on) and nectar-producing plants (for eating) can provide a hospitable habitat for migrating monarchs.
    Jessica Boehm, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Furthermore, a focused approach to marketing Elgin as a hospitable destination for investment could yield substantial long-term benefits.
    Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The keyboard itself is pleasant enough to type on, with moderate feedback while avoiding the squishy feel some budget systems have.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • From the point of view of Paul, Weiss, having to strike this arrangement wasn’t pleasant, but the price was tolerable.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Though he was disappointed by the loss, Page didn't demonstrate any further wrestling tactics on Seacrest and ended the show with a polite handshake.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • His boss and co-worker remember him as quiet, polite and professional.
    James Bandler, ProPublica, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Baseball’s celebration of that day often obscures the fact that MLB hasn’t been African American friendly in decades.
    Terence Moore, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Vermont's politics and demographics are also more friendly to Sanders' views than other battleground districts in the Trump era.
    Stephen Fowler, NPR, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This is a nice improvement, though short of Apple's 10-hour estimate.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, Ruthe adds, would be a nice target.
    George Ramsay and Patrick Snell, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • No new technology can replace what a thoughtful culture audit can reveal.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • These quotes are all from the thoughtful, candid, curious mommy makeover patients that Allure recently spoke to for our story 17 People Get Real About their Mommy Makeovers.
    Meirav Devash, Allure, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The cast includes Stephen Merchant as the voice of the mouse, Kristen Wiig as a scenery-chewing evil aunt, and Jim Broadbent as a kindly but clueless king.
    EW.com, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024
  • In his fourth feature, director Hsiao Ya-Chuan follows the unsentimental education of a motherless 11-year-old boy, Liao Jie (Bai Run-yin), raised in poverty by his kindly father, Liao Tai-lai (Liu Kuan-Ting), a waiter at a busy banqueting hall.
    Alissa Simon, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • There are plucky steamed chive dumplings with translucent skin, meatball-like shumai teeming with pork, chicken or shrimp, green tea sesame balls (each $1.50 apiece) with Wicked-green dough surrounding sweet black paste.
    Benjy Egel, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Perhaps serendipitously, the top-selling scent Nana, infused with the sweet snack persimmon, is based on the woman herself.
    Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gracious. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gracious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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